From the Fall 2022 Local Harvest Newsletter.
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Ashton has a few years of school ahead of her before she’s ready for college, but she’s already making plans for her future — and thanks to you, she has nourishing food to fuel her dreams and inspiration to pay it forward.
“It’s a toss-up between a baker and a writer,” she says of her ideal job.
For now, the Robinson Middle School seventh grader is busy enough. She plays the cello in the school orchestra and is enrolled in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), which requires students to perform community service.
On the first Friday of each month, Ashton passes out food to fellow students and community members as a volunteer at a Harvesters drive-thru food pickup.
“When I had the opportunity, I said let me help other people like Harvesters helped me,” she says. “And I still take home food to help my family out.”
Ashton says her mother currently makes too much money at her job to qualify for SNAP benefits. Ashton’s oldest sister is away at college, but another sister is in high school and lives at home, along with her adult brother, his girlfriend and their children.
In addition to receiving food from Harvesters, Ashton takes advantage of the free breakfast and lunch program at her school and stops by for lunch sacks handed out by cafeteria workers during the summer.
“I’m just glad (Harvesters) can take time out of their day to bring us food so I can pass it out,” she says. “I like to see the looks on people’s faces when they get food. When the trucks come to our school and take all the food out and set it up, I just want to say thank you for being here.”
If you would like to help other students like Ashton, please consider giving here.