Patriot Spirit: Parkersburg South Class of ‘74 donates to school food pantry for 50th reunion
Members of the Parkersburg South High School Class of 1974 present a donation check and food items for the school’s pantry Monday in the cafeteria. Pictured, from left, are Class of ‘74 members Floyd Palmer, Cindy (Weekley) Marks, Delores (Westbrook) Bibbee and Anne (Bower) McFee, English teacher and food pantry manager Hannah Jarman, Class of ‘74 member Debbie (Fleak) Sleeth and Principal Maria Francisco. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
In addition to a donation of $2,805, members of the Parkersburg South High School Class of 1974 also collected items for the school’s food pantry during their recent 50th reunion. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Parkersburg South High School Class of 1974 present a donation check and food items for the school’s pantry Monday in the cafeteria. Pictured, from left, are Class of ‘74 members Floyd Palmer, Cindy (Weekley) Marks, Delores (Westbrook) Bibbee and Anne (Bower) McFee, English teacher and food pantry manager Hannah Jarman, Class of ‘74 member Debbie (Fleak) Sleeth and Principal Maria Francisco. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
In addition to a donation of $2,805, members of the Parkersburg South High School Class of 1974 also collected items for the school’s food pantry during their recent 50th reunion. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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PARKERSBURG -- Members of Parkersburg South High School's Class of 1974 capped off their 50th reunion activities Monday by donating nearly $3,000 to their alma mater's food pantry.
"I think this is amazing," said South English teacher Hannah Jarman, who manages the pantry, after Class of '74 member Debbie Sleeth presented her with the check for $2,805 in the school cafeteria.
"We will put it to good use," Principal Maria Francisco said.
The pantry provides food for students in need, whether it's a one-time situation, a weekly supply or meal bags for holidays and long breaks, Jarman said.
"A lot of times, teachers will be the first people who notice kids in need," she said.
Sleeth said that every five years, the class likes to take up a collection and donate at least $1,000 to a program at the school. This year, they chose the food pantry and raised the money through a silent auction that included original paintings, handmade jewelry, Blenko glass, ships in bottles, gift baskets and more.
"We know so many kids do without," Sleeth said. "So someone said the food pantry, and we (the committee organizing the reunion) all said yes."
Donations were accepted throughout the reunion festivities Aug. 2-4, where activities included golf, pickleball, meals and a bus tour for some alumni who moved away to see how Parkersburg has changed. Some class members donated food items that were also delivered Monday, while others sent donations separately. Donations were also requested in remembrance of Mark Florence, a Class of '74 member who passed away in July, Sleeth said.
Jarman, a 2011 South grad, said she was moved to see alumni giving back to help current students.
"It makes it feel more like home," she said.
People interested in contributing to the pantry can contact the school and ask for Jarman.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com