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Tioughnioga Riverside Academy (TRA) is a middle school located in Whitney Point, on the banks of the scenic Tioughnioga River – a 34.2-mile-long tributary that flows through several counties. Another major tributary, the Otselic River, also enters the Tioughnioga River nearby. 

Like many rural communities in the Southern Tier, TRA students are just as accustomed to stunning natural landscapes as they are to economic hardship and higher-than-average rates of poverty. In Whitney Point, about 55% of the population is at an economic disadvantage. 

But, when it comes to food assistance, TRA students don’t have to go far. In fact, they don’t even have to leave the building. 

School Food Centers are a Food Bank of the Southern Tier program that removes transportation barriers and seamlessly serves children by establishing pantries inside schools. Last year, 1.4 million pounds of food were distributed across 32 School Food Centers throughout the Southern Tier.

School Food Centers do more than increase reach and food distribution. They integrate food assistance into everyday spaces, reducing stigma and building trust within communities. At the TRA, the School Food Center has a name packed with school pride: The Eagles’ Cupboard.

“What the pantry means to me is freedom,” said a 13-year-old TRA student who has utilized the center. “Because I am not afraid to ask for a little help, because we need it due to my family’s situation.” 

As a social worker at the TRA, Heather Pudish was poised to step into the coordinator role when the Eagles’ Cupboard opened in 2024. With a BackPack program already established at the elementary school, Heather saw the School Food Center as an opportunity to build on that network of support.

“Having the food pantry here at the school has just given me another avenue to make connections with families, which is a positive for our home-school connection all around,” she said.

Students can access the Eagles’ Cupboard during school or stop by during Open Hours, from 2:40 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. No need is too big or too small – students can grab snacks like apple sauce and mandarin oranges or take home items like soup, pasta, sauce, and canned chicken.

The pantry is even accessible digitally. Through an online form, TRA families can see what’s available at the Eagles’ Cupboard and select what they want to be sent home. “That seemed to be very effective at increasing the amount of receiving students and families,” Heather said. 

The Eagles’ Cupboard has also become a place to give back. Each growing season, teachers and students use the greenhouse on TRA grounds to cultivate fresh produce and leafy greens like kale and Swiss chard, donating their harvest directly to the pantry.

TRA students have also volunteered by unpacking shipments of food and stocking the items on the shelves – which allows young people at the school to get involved while still respecting the confidentiality of any students who use the pantry.

With rising grocery and gas prices, the need for community collaboration has been greater than ever. By utilizing Food Bank programs like School Food Centers, BackPack, and Kids’ Farmers Markets, school districts can keep students fed and give them the fuel they need to thrive – in life and in school.

Integrating these resources into school settings can do even more than provide consistent, reliable, and nutritious food. It can be a powerful way to normalize getting help. Heather has seen the impact herself, and that trust is especially clear when families face unexpected challenges.

When one student’s parents were laid off at the same time, the Eagles’ Cupboard was there for them through the ups and downs. But what encouraged Heather the most was the way the student always felt comfortable enough to come back if they needed to.

“It’s great that they feel comfortable recognizing that we’re here to support them,” she said. “It’s a blessing to be in that helping role.”