Wunderlich Intermediate School creates permanent food pantry

Maria Elena Sanchez and Matt Maudlin tag team to run Wunderlich's first food pantry.

Wunderlich Intermediate School teachers are working with local churches and community members to make the Wunderlich food pantry a permanent institution.

Under the leadership of Wunderlich staff members, the school, Faithbridge Church, Kinsmen Lutheran Church and local community volunteers are collecting donations and providing volunteer service. During the holiday season, the Wunderlich food pantry will provide food for at least 350 families who are in need. The food pantry will become a permanent service at the Wunderlich Intermediate campus beginning in January. Project organizers aim to provide meals monthly to at least 50 families in the Wunderlich community, according to a school press release.

The food pantry originated from a school-wide project known as the Giving Tree, a craft project that identified students' families who could benefit from a food pantry service. This year was the second time Wunderlich organized a Giving Tree. The positive reaction from students and their families inspired staff members Maria Elena Sanchez, a parent liaison, and Matt Maudlin, a health and physical education teacher, to lead the way in creating a permanent food pantry at Wunderlich.

"This project gives us a chance to help out students and parents, and provide assistance in an area that can benefit the entire family," Sanchez said in the release. "Nearly all our students eat breakfast and lunch here every day, and more often times than not, that may be the only thing they eat the entire day."

Wunderlich Intermediate has more than 1,100 students who qualify for free/reduced lunches. 400 of those students are considered high-needs based on government and economic reports.

"Our job as educators is to service the child as a whole, and by taking this small issue out of the equation it will allow them to become more focused on their academics and being a good student," Maudlin said in the release.

Wunderlich Intermediate School is at 11800 Misty Valley Drive, Houston.

For more information, visit http://classroom.kleinisd.net/webs/wunderlich/.