n a powerful display of community spirit, the halls of El Camino Real Charter High School were recently filled with more than just students.
On Monday, March 23, the Rotary Club of West Valley hauled away nearly 3,100 pounds of food—a massive haul collected by the school’s Leadership class to restock the shelves of the West Valley Food Pantry.
The student-led initiative, spearheaded by faculty sponsors Brian Wilson and Lynsey Shano, and coordinated by sophomore leadership students Arnika Nasisri and Dhanishka De Silva, marks the school’s second major drive in just six months. Remarkably, this spring effort yielded twice the amount of the previous drive. For the pantry, the timing couldn’t be better; spring is typically a “lean” season when holiday donations have dried up but the community need remains high.
The logistics were a true community affair. After students spent a month gathering non-perishables, The Rotary Club of West Valley members Paige Lanzetta, Evie Kumpart, and Margaruite Newman arrived Monday morning to load their vehicles and ferry the bounty to the pantry. Organizers say the success is a testament to the “uniting force” of students and local service organizations working toward a common goal.
Lily Varner, Director of Operations at the West Valley Food Pantry, noted that while the generosity of El Camino and other local schools is “heading in the right direction,” the battle against food insecurity is far from over. There continues to be an ongoing need for donations of food and funds as more families seek support.
The statistics for the region remain sobering. According to recent public health reports, nearly 95,000 households in the San Fernando Valley alone struggle to afford basic groceries. The West Valley Food Pantry has grown from a 1975 “food closet” into a vital lifeline that served over 91,000 individuals last year, distributing nearly a million pounds of food.
However, the pantry faces new hurdles with recent federal funding cuts. Community leaders are now looking to the example set by El Camino’s youth, praising their ability to rise to the challenge when it matters most.
Residents or local organizations looking to help can contribute directly by visiting westvalleyfoodpantry.org. Every donation helps ensure no neighbor goes hungry this spring.
