Food for Thought’s in-school pantries provide healthy food choices to our students and their families. Our pantry visitors shop in a familiar, secure school setting, without limits to the number of visits and often with access to an interpreter. By seeking feedback from staff and customers, we strive to ensure that each of our in-school pantries meets the needs of that particular school in terms of operation and design. We are pleased that our pantry customers tell us they receive healthier food and face less overall hunger.
We invite you to help us continue making a real difference in our community by providing invaluable assistance to food insecure families!
East High School
The East High School Food for Thought student club coordinates the East pantry. The pantry distributes 100 pounds weekly. The pantry is available to all students at any time of the day. Staff can also take the parents of the student to the pantry.


Sandburg Elementary
Fresh and shelf stable food for this full service In-School Pantry is provided by community donations and UW Health at The American Center. The pantry is open during school hours to any family of a student attending Sandburg. Approximately 150 pounds of food per week is distributed by the pantry.
Mendota Elementary
The Mendota pantry provides easy access to nutritious food for families of Mendota students. Each week, the pantry distributes hundreds of pounds of fresh and shelf-stable food. The pantry is open 2 days per week.


Cherokee Heights Middle
The Cherokee Heights Middle School (CHMS) Pantry opened September 2018 and serves about 30 families each week. In addition, a “Food to Home” program started in the summer of 2019 for about 14 families who are not able to use the pantry due to transportation issues. We provide nutritious foods for families of CHMS students, and have sponsored a cooking class for students using food from the pantry to encourage and teach healthy and easy meal preparation.
Hawthorne Elementary
Beginning September 2019 this full service in-school pantry will provide fresh and shelf-stable food to Hawthorne students’ families. Open Monday mornings from 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

East High School
The East High School Food for Thought student club coordinates the East pantry. The pantry distributes 100 pounds weekly. The pantry is available to all students at any time of the day. Staff can also take the parents of the student to the pantry.

Sandburg Elementary
Fresh and shelf stable food for this full service in-school Pantry is provided by community donations and UW Health at The American Center. The pantry is open during school hours to any family of a student attending Sandburg. Approximately 150 pounds of food per week is distributed by the pantry.

Mendota Elementary
The Mendota pantry provides easy access to nutritious food for families of Mendota students. Each week, the pantry distributes hundreds of pounds of fresh and shelf-stable food. The pantry is open 2 days per week.

Cherokee Heights Middle
The Cherokee Heights Middle School (CHMS) Pantry opened September 2018 and serves about 30 families each week. In addition, a “Food to Home” program started in the summer of 2019 for about 14 families who are not able to use the pantry due to transportation issues. We provide nutritious foods for families of CHMS students, and have sponsored a cooking class for students using food from the pantry to encourage and teach healthy and easy meal preparation.

Hawthorne Elementary
Beginning September 2019 this full service in-school pantry will provide fresh and shelf-stable food to Hawthorne students’ families. Open Monday mornings from 7:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
