PARSIPPANY — Brooklawn Middle School has established a new community pantry to provide food and hygiene items to students and families experiencing hardship, with the program run entirely by students in the school’s Multiple Disabilities self-contained classes.
The BMS Community Pantry, coordinated by Special Education teachers Greg Espinosa and Angela Zinnes, gives students hands-on vocational experience as part of their job readiness and life skills curriculum. Under staff guidance, students organize inventory, stock shelves, prepare food bags and track supplies, gaining real-world work experience in the process.
According to Espinosa and Zinnes, the pantry serves the Brooklawn Middle School community by providing students with food and hygiene items whenever a need arises during the school day, and by preparing Friday Food Bags for selected students to help provide meals over weekends and school breaks.
Principal Carly Stout confirmed in a letter to the community that the BMS Community Pantry is an officially approved initiative of the Parsippany-Troy Hills School District, operating with her full support.
The school is asking for community support to sustain the program. Donations accepted include monetary contributions, gift cards to retailers such as ShopRite, Stop and Shop, Costco, Whole Foods, Walmart, Wegmans, Target, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Sam’s Club and Amazon, as well as non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products. Checks can be made payable to Brooklawn Middle School – BMS Community Pantry.
School officials said sponsors will be recognized on the school’s Instagram account, and they are hoping to build ongoing partnerships with organizations willing to make an annual commitment to the pantry.
Those interested in donating or becoming a community partner can contact Espinosa at [email protected] or Zinnes at [email protected], or reach Brooklawn Middle School at 250 Beechwood Road, Parsippany, at (973) 428-7551.
