As rising grocery prices and food insecurity continue to impact families across the community, West has introduced a new grab-and-go meal program designed to offer practical support and bring people together.

According to Principal Rebecca Montour, the initiative aims not only to provide nutritious, accessible meals, but also to reinforce the school’s commitment to caring for students and their families during challenging times.

“The grab-and-go meal program is a way for West to support families who are facing food insecurity, especially during the holiday season,” she said.

Family and Consumer Science teacher Robyn Badtke quickly realized that recent reductions to SNAP benefits have intensified the need for support.

“It’s helping the community, especially our students who might have some food insufficiencies due to the government shutdown and SNAP benefits being reduced,” she said. “It helps fulfill some meals so that our students don’t go home hungry.”

Students themselves see the value of the program as well. Junior Samreen Farooq shares her perspective and the compassionate spirit behind the initiative and the impact it has on those who rely on it.

“I think it’s very beneficial for families who are struggling to provide for their household, especially for groceries, because everybody deserves to eat and to fill their hunger, so I think this is a very caring way for the community to provide for each other,” she said.

Montour also emphasized that inflation has played a major role in the creation of the program.

“With the continued rising costs of groceries and the cost of living, we are hearing from more and more students and families that putting food on the table for an entire family is difficult,” she said. “We wanted to find a way to support our community and thought this would be an easy way to do so.”

Badtke agrees, noting that the meals help ease the stress families often feel when resources run low.

“It just helps fill that void of maybe not having enough money for meals, especially for larger families struggling,” she said. “So just giving them something to not have to worry about.”

According to Montour, each grab-and-go meal is both nutritious and shelf-stable.

“Each meal is made of non-perishable items and can feed a family of six,” she said. “They are simple to make and full of nutritious ingredients.”

She credited Badtke’s initiative and the community’s generosity as the driving force behind the program’s success.

“Mrs. Badtke approached me with the idea and did the work of finding the ingredients, putting the meals together, etc. We’ve also had many generous donations from community organizations and families,” she said.

Badtke shared that her motivation for starting the program comes from her desire to support families and provide students with meaningful opportunities to give back.

“As a Family and Consumer Science Teacher, food is very important to all of us,” she said. “Creating these meals was an easy way to help. Having students assist also gives them a chance to be involved in the community and practice volunteerism, which I think is important.”

For now, the program is set to run daily through Christmas break, with plans to expand meal availability before long vacations and continue as a weekly offering throughout the school year.

“We’re going to do it every day through Christmas break, and we’re hoping to have bigger bags ready for those longer vacations,” Badtke said. “Then we’re going to do it every Friday throughout the school year.”

Donations are still being accepted, and families or community members can reference the grocery list shared on Facebook to contribute.

“Donations are being accepted at Door 38,” Badtke said. “There is a list circulating on Facebook, and anyone can contact myself, Ms. Montour, or Ms. Pakula. The Rotary Club is involved as well. We’ve received great donations, both monetary and food, and if anybody can help, that’s awesome.”

by Jazbia Farooq

Published December 1, 2025

Oshkosh West Index Volume 122 Issue III

West steps up to help fill void brought on by food insecurities