Midlakes has opened a free food pantry inside its secondary school to give district students and their families direct access to groceries, fresh produce and personal care supplies.
The Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District developed the pantry with Foodlink, the Mary Hicks Preston Foundation, the Clifton Springs Rotary Club and the Midlakes Interact Club. The resource is available to all enrolled students and their families.
District officials said placing the pantry on campus is intended to reduce transportation barriers and give families a familiar, convenient place to seek help. Food and other supplies are provided at no cost.
The pantry stocks fresh produce, shelf-stable groceries and personal care items. It is housed in the Midlakes Secondary School building in Clifton Springs.
Community partners built the program
Foodlink serves as the pantry's main food and logistics partner, supplying fresh food and dry goods and providing ongoing support through its regional food bank network.
The Mary Hicks Preston Foundation provided grant funding for startup costs, infrastructure and equipment. The Clifton Springs Rotary Club contributed volunteer help, while the district supplied space, facility resources and staff coordination.
Midlakes Interact students helped build the pantry's initial inventory and public awareness through food drives during the 2025-26 school year. Anthony Gleason, a 2026 graduate, collected donations, and Gleason, Maggie Hultzapple and Kyle Bell were among the Interact members who helped build momentum for the project and stock shelves.
Pantry aims to support learning and well-being
Food pantry coordinator and district MTSS coordinator Margo Lacure said reliable access to nutritious food is important to students' health, well-being and ability to learn. She said the partners helped create an accessible, stigma-free resource on campus.
Families seeking distribution hours or information about volunteering and donations can contact school social workers Kristin Wrobbel and Katie Peck at 315-548-6310. Lacure can be reached at 315-548-6900, extension 7224.
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