VIEW GALLERY | Collins Middle School Eighth Grade Scholars Lobby for MEFAP Funding

If any of the 23 Collins Middle School eighth grade scholars had any doubt that they could be agents of change in their community, that doubt was recently quashed.

Students in Ms. Katherine Jahl‘s class presented their civic action project to State Representative Manny Cruz ’12 (D, Seventh Essex District) on Friday Afternoon, Apr. 13, appealing for an increase in funding for the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP), a state-funded supplier of nutritious, locally grown food to over 900 emergency food pantries, kitchens, shelters across the Commonwealth.

Rep. Cruz, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, listened intently as each student presented a slide detailing the importance and impact of MEFAP, which provides 600,000 meals per month statewide but is in danger of losing funding due to federal budget cuts.

Additionally, as detailed in the presentation, CMS students wrote letters to every state representative and received several replies.

Rep. Cruz lauded the class for a thorough presentation and said he would create a budget amendment for additional funding for the Salem Food Pantry, expected to be impacted. Interim Superintendent Kate Carbone also applauded the work, and emphasized that collective voices can result in positive action.

Ms. Jahl’s students are expected to present to the Salem School Committee as well as Senator Joan Lovely in the near future.

Collins Middle School Action Civics Project Presentation

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