Paris Elementary staff collects food to give to students

from the Lewiston Sun Journal

By Leslie H. Dixon

PARIS - When Mary Newcomb filled 10 grocery carts with food at a local supermarket, she got strange looks.

But the elementary school guidance counselor was on a serious mission to feed students over the summer. Sixty-three percent of Paris Elementary School students come from families whose income falls below the federal poverty line, according to school records.

In some cases, free or reduced school lunches are the only meals children get, according to school staff.

So what happens when summer comes and school is closed?

"Our staff is very concerned," Principal Jane Fahey told school directors Monday night. The rising cost of fuel, energy and food, and the loss of local jobs all factor into a family's ability to keep food on the table.

Several months ago the staff began talking about escalating prices and decided they had to do something. With the help of donations from Wal-Mart, Hannaford, the school staff charity Cents for Kids and others, $1,400 was raised to buy food for local families.

On Wednesday from 1 to 7 p.m., school doors will be open to Paris Elementary families who want to pick up a bag or two of food. No questions asked.

"Any person who has children in school is welcome to come," Newcomb said Tuesday as she and students organized hundreds of boxes of cereal, macaroni, pancake mix, cans of soups, peanut butter and other foods on the school stage.

Food Services Director Martha O'Leary said the problem is not unique to Paris Elementary School.

The rate of children needing free or reduced lunch and breakfast is at least 50 percent districtwide and it tends to increase as the school year goes on, O'Leary said.

In West Paris, 66 percent of the elementary school children receive free or reduced lunch and breakfast. At Hebron Station School it's 30 percent.

O'Leary, who has served as director for the past five years, said she has seen a significant increase in the number of children needing help over the past few years, particularly with the closing of several large employers such as Burlington Homes and Oxford Homes, both in Oxford.