As more families turn to the Liberty Local Schools Food Pantry for support, the Girard-Liberty Rotary Club’s $3,000 donation couldn’t have come at a better time. The contribution will help provide essential food and resources to students and families across the district.
On Monday, October 27th, members of the Rotary gathered at Liberty Local Schools for a check presentation, celebrating their support for the pantry and the families it serves.
According to Christian Denning, a TCESC Intervention Specialist in Liberty’s PreK–6 building, the impact of this funding will be immediate and far-reaching. Denning helps lead the pantry’s efforts and works with students with special needs, providing them with meaningful, hands-on learning experiences through the pantry. “This year has been truly impactful — we have never experienced a level of need like this before,” Denning shared. “In past years, we typically served around 20–30 visits per month, supporting four families in total. Today, we have 165 families registered for assistance.”
Liberty 5th-grade teacher and National Honor Society Advisor Marla Dull also plays a key role in supporting the pantry alongside Denning. She and her NHS students regularly work with Denning and her TCESC students to organize and run food drives that keep the pantry stocked throughout the year. Dull emphasized how important it is for educators to model compassion and community service for students.
“As educators, we are the prime role models for many of our students,” Dull said. “I am passionate about volunteering and helping others, especially in my hometown of Liberty Township. What better way than to help locally and show students the value of empathy and compassion for our peers in need.”
Debbie Minniti, a Girard-Liberty Rotary member and Liberty Local Schools Transportation Supervisor, said the donation reflects the heart of Rotary’s mission to serve others. “For us to be able to give this money to help our students in need, especially as we approach this time of year, is what being a Rotary member is all about,” Minniti said. “We’re happy to help and give back to the community, and this one hits close to home for me because I work with these students every day.”
The pantry is currently able to prepare one pantry bag for each student of a registered family to take home every other week. Each bag includes food items that provide at least one meal, snacks, and a hygiene product to help meet students’ most basic needs.
Denning emphasized the deeper purpose behind the program, noting that meeting students’ essential needs directly supports their ability to learn and thrive. “A hungry child cannot focus, engage, or succeed in the classroom,” she explained. “If we can provide something as simple as a bag of food or a few hygiene items to make life a little easier for a family, that’s exactly what we’ll do.”
For Denning’s TCESC students, the food pantry serves as an authentic learning experience. From carrying boxes and organizing shelves to counting, labeling, and packing more than 160 bags, students develop real-world vocational skills while contributing to their community. “This project brings our classroom instruction to life,” Denning said. “It’s a meaningful way for students to apply what they’ve learned while practicing kindness, teamwork, and responsibility.”
The Girard-Liberty Rotary’s donation will help the pantry continue to meet growing needs while providing ongoing educational and service opportunities for students. Denning expressed deep gratitude for the Rotary’s support, calling it an example of the community coming together for the right reasons.
“When we have the resources and the ability to help others, it’s not just our duty, it’s our privilege,” she said.
With the month of November right around the corner, the Liberty Local Schools Food Pantry will be looking for donations as the district heads into the holiday season—continuing its mission to support Liberty families in need.
Pictured:
Andy Kish (Rotary Co-President), Julian Hillier, Noah Dotson, Arianna Story, Daniel Landreth, Christian Denning (Intervention Specialist), Cooper Sandy, Serenity Meadows, Dawn Essad (Teacher), and Joyce Faiver (Rotary Member)
Not pictured but pantry helpers:
Elias Julian, Keyana Cheek, Angelina Vince, Ms. Reilly, and Ms. Jay