UTICA — Students at Kernan Elementary School have established the Utica City School District’s first student-led food pantry initiative.

Developed by the school’s fifth and sixth grade students and the student council, the food pantry offers a variety of non-perishable food items that were donated by the school’s students, faculty, staff, administration and local organizations.

“We have collected a very large amount of food through the generosity of our students, staff, local businesses and community,” said Kernan Elementary Student Council President Nuer Gaw. “Their kindness, selflessness ... will guarantee that the current kids and current school food pantry will be on the front lines of a family in need or an emergency arises. We take great pride in our model Kernan Kids Care.”

The students came up with the idea to create a food pantry to address the need for families of the school’s students who may be financially struggling to be able to provide meals for their children. Students are able to take what they need and bring it home to their families whenever they need to.

The students, faculty, staff and administration of Kernan Elementary celebrated a grand opening of the food pantry on Wednesday with the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, alongside local officials and politicians who all came to laude the compassion and the efforts of the students to help provide for their community.

“As adults, teachers, administrators, parents, assemblywomen, councilors advocate on behalf of the students all the time,” said Acting Superintendent of Utica City School District Brian Nolan. “That’s kind of our job and responsibility to make sure we get the right amount of funding, the right kind of programming, but the reality of it is our kids, our students are the best advocates for themselves and that’s definitely displayed here at Kernan with this group.”

The students at Kernan Elementary are hopeful that their food pantry initiative will serve as a model for other schools within the Utica City School District and to inspire other students to lead efforts into establishing their own.