A in-school food pantry that will provide nutritious take-home food to local families in need officially opened May 20 at Westfield River Elementary School.
The Westfield Kiwanis Club provided a new refrigerator-freezer which the pantry will use to store perishable food items.
Supt. of Schools Stefan Czaporowski, a Kiwanis Club member, presided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the food pantry Wednesday. Club Vice President Steve Dondley represented the club at the event.
The pantry was initially funded with a $7,500 donation from Stop & Shop Supermarkets.
The elementary school currently has 410 students, with a majority from economically disadvantaged families that are facing daily food insecurity, according to School Principal Jill Phelan, who said there was a significant need for the new food pantry.