Coral Shores High School students within Rotary’s Interact Club stood outside Tavernier’s Winn Dixie on the afternoon of Oct. 23, collecting food items for their fellow community members in need. A pantry at the school that allows students to grab nonperishables has been utilized quite a bit during times of COVID-19, and it had club members seeking the community’s help.
By the end of the day, students collected shopping carts full of grocery bags thanks to community members. Three carloads of groceries were delivered back to the high school’s pantry.
Junior Keegan Wittke said the food pantry supports students in need of food that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to obtain. Wittke and other club members handed grocery shoppers a list of items the pantry’s in need of. Wittke said the pantry’s stayed busy ever since COVID-19 arrived.
“The pantry’s been used quite a bit and we’ve been working to keep up with the supply,” Wittke said. “It’s been very useful during Hurricane Irma and COVID-19. We’re just glad the community is here to help us.”
Through the pantry, students are able to take home a bag of food to their families every weekend. Trisha Biondoletti, teacher who manages the pantry, said the pantry was used more through the pandemic when many people were facing challenges.
“It’s so wonderful to see these students support their own peers. It’s very heartwarming that they took time out of their Saturday to help,” she said.
Biondoletti added that the food pantry is a true “school project” with students from various groups, like Interact and Leadership Class, helping.
Interact clubs like the one through Coral Shores inspire and energize young leaders between 12 and 18 through service. Junior Angelina Bell became an Interact Club member during her freshman year. She said the club gives students the ability to get involved in the community and connect with people around them.
“The best part about Interact is being able to help people and seeing the appreciation and reaction from those you help,” Bell said.
Senior Alyssa Aguiar also became an Interact Club member during her freshman year. She said the club allows her to get involved with a community she loves. Aguiar said community resources helped her family through tough times.
“It’s an opportunity for me to give back because the Keys have given me so much,” she said.
Annika Needham, of the Coral Shores Interact Club, said the high school’s food pantry has made a measurable impact ever since the beginning.
“Being able to see the change we are making is very rewarding,” she said.
Cheryl Powers is a Key Largo Rotarian who serves as a mentor alongside Frank Derfler, of the Upper Keys Rotary Club, for the Interact Club members. Powers recalls sitting down with the club to figure out a service project. Having conducted a Purple Pinkies fundraiser for polio vaccines, the club wanted to do something that helped the school and families.
“There’s no better way than a food drive. They worked with Trish Biondoletti,who manages the food pantry, to determine what was needed,” Powers said.
During times of COVID-19, Derfler said the Interact Club pulled together to be one of the best organizations he’s seen at Coral Shores in a decade as mentor.
“They are highly organized and they are doing things in the community practically every week,” he said. “This is the premiere service club at Coral Shores, and I’m so impressed by the group there this year.”
Those wishing to provide food or monetary donations to the Coral Shores food pantry can call the school office at 305-853-3222.
