The Society of Samaritans (SOS) has begun preparing for summer by collecting many of the food items children need while school is out of session.

Acting Director Mildred Ashworth said that with children out of school the organization sends out more food monthly.

Pictured is volunteer Sue Caiontz gathering food items for residents in need of assistance.

Program Director Lynette Gibbons said the organization sees the highest demand for food during June and July from the students who are normally on a reduced or low income lunch plan.

“Those parents have to provide breakfast and lunches during summer,” she added. “We want to do everything we can to help those people.”

Magnolia ISD has about 12,000 students currently enrolled, 41 percent of whom are classified as economically disadvantaged, according to MISD Director of Student Services Matt Clark.

In April SOS helped 366 families, or 1,293 individuals, by providing food from its pantry, according to Ashworth. The organization helps about 400 families per month and that number is expected to rise during June and July.

“We get a lot of new families because kids are home or families who don’t come in very often will come in more because they need food (during the summer),” Ashworth said.

Gibbons said the organization needs “kid friendly” foods such as microwavable macaroni and cheese, raviolis and peanut butter and jelly. The food pantry is low on items such as canned meats, soups and spaghetti ingredients.

In addition, Ashworth said the organization could use more volunteers to help organize the food pantry and have food ready for residents when they arrive to pick them up.

The organization is preparing large donation buckets to be placed at local businesses. Any business interested in being a food drop-off location should contact SOS. This is the second year that the organization has placed the food buckets at businesses in the community, Gibbons said.

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