A new program has emerged in Lakewood High School (LHS), with the goal of doing good in the community. Despite being relatively new at the high school, the program’s potential is undeniable.
“[The] MILES Market is a student-run program at LHS designed to support families in our school community while giving students in the MILES program real-world vocational experience. Through the program, students practice workplace skills such as food preparation, packaging, organization, teamwork and problem-solving. It’s both a service project for our community and a hands-on learning opportunity that helps students build independence and job readiness,” said Cory Streets, an intervention specialist for the MILES unit at LHS and the director for the MILES Market.
Because the program has been running for only four weeks, this semester is viewed as a trial period to gauge its success and efficacy.
“We started discussing it back in the fall with Dr. Palumbo and [a] team of administrators who worked with guidance counselors and the support team to identify, [as of] right now, 12 families in need who are experiencing food scarcity. We’re weekly trying to put together a bag of groceries for each of those families that have been identified, and we deliver them to the [school’s] front office and they’re [then] picked up to be taken home over the weekend,” said Streets.
As for the bags of groceries made weekly, many of the items included are donated shelf-stable pantry items. However, a unique aspect of these care packages is that the students themselves grow some of their own vegetables, such as lettuce and various herbs, through a hydroponics system now located in the former House 2 office.
“The focus of this year’s Rotary Club was to fund programs and projects that benefit residents of Lakewood and Rocky River in the areas of hunger, health services, youth development and job training. While the district initially requested $5,000, we were thrilled to receive a $2,500 award through LREF to launch this project,” said Dr. Christine Palumbo, the assistant superintendent of Lakewood City Schools.
However, this allocated money cannot be used to buy food, so the program is seeking other ways to raise funds and collect donations. Depending on how this semester goes and whether participants feel it is feasible, the program may expand to serve more families over time.
The MILES Market is also working with several organizations, including West Shore Culinary Arts and District Nutrition Services, to find food items that can be used in the care packages rather than being unnecessarily wasted.
The MILES Market and its partnerships with other programs provide a unique opportunity for the students to learn practical skills and to form connections in the community. “It’s definitely not like anything I worked at [before],” said Billy O’Malley, a LHS student participating in the MILES Market.
“We’re also looking into the possibility of baked goods as well as dehydrated fruits and things, taking leftover bananas, apples and oranges and such from lunch that would have otherwise been discarded, and then slicing them up and preparing them in the dehydrator. Of course, we have to go through procedures to set this up to make sure it’s done appropriately and legally, but we’re approaching it as sort of a free bake sale,” said Streets.
To support plans to expand into dehydrated foods and baked goods, the MILES Market accepts donations through the book room, where anyone can drop off unexpired pantry items between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on school days.
The MILES Market accepts any pantry items but especially needs easily prepared foods such as canned soups, vegetables and similar items.
The MILES Market also accepts any type of flour but prefers bread flour for its high protein content, ideal for baked goods. Monetary donations are accepted through the MILES Makers club via the book room.
“The kids seem to enjoy it. So far, they’re on board,” said Streets
