We are honored to give the 2022 Food Charter Champion Award for Food Security to Sugg Middle School Jobs for Maine Grads Program.
Earlier this year, the JMG program at Sugg, which comprises about 35 students in 7th and and 8th grades, led by teacher Michelle Huston, transformed an unused locker room into a food pantry and essential item resource center offered to any student, no questions asked. Their nominator said “From a hungry student who just needs a substantial morning snack, a learner who needs a refuel before going home, or a student who would love new-to-them semi-formal attire, the JMG program finds a way.”
The pantry was kick-started through a grant from Full-Plates Full-Potential, but the JMG students support all the day-to-day operations including inventory tracking, stocking, and cleaning, and have taken pride and ownership over the effort according to their teacher. This has included JMG students presenting to their peers about opportunities to support or utilize the service during an annual school-wide “Healthy Decisions Day”. The effort has also created ripple effects that they never anticipated, including creating an avenue for community members and local businesses to donate goods and services to support Lisbon students and teachers.
Congratulations and thanks to Sugg Middle School JMG for addressing food insecurity!
ABOUT: Each year, the Good Food Council of Lewiston-Auburn hosts the Food Charter Champion Awards by celebrating the contributions of five individuals or groups from the greater Lewiston-Auburn area who strive to create a more vibrant and healthy food system from farm-to-fork. Those honored with awards ‘lead by example’ in one, or more, of the five principles of the LA Community Food Charter. Learn more about the other 2022 Food Charter Champion Award winners here.