On Wednesday, June 25th, Principal Rodriguez of Yonkers’ Enrico Fermi School cut a big red ribbon to mark the opening of the school’s newest addition: a food pantry.
With the help of Superintendent Anibal Soler, Jr., local families were given packages of food to start off the summer—nourished.
Despite the intense heat, Principal Rodriguez, Superintendent Soler, staff, and board members gathered for the grand opening celebration and to participate in a food distribution.
La Bodeguita de Fermi—the name chosen for this pantry—is a fitting title for a community pantry located right in the heart of the school.
As Yonkers Public Schools described it on their Instagram page, “La Bodeguita de Fermi is a safe place for the community to access healthy, nutritious and culturally relevant food.”
In the midst of the chaos of end-of-year festivities, the school’s faculty remained determined to launch the pantry before summer break—a time when families need a little extra support.
The cafeteria was beautifully arranged with bags of food—and even some toys!
However, what makes this pantry extra special is that it serves both students and local residents.
Superintendent Soler spoke to the pantry’s importance for Yonkers students in particular, saying, “We know that food insecurity is a major barrier to a lot of our students in terms of allowing them to be ready to learn… the pantry will help disrupt that cycle of them not knowing if they are going to eat.”
This demonstrates that a school pantry can help to keep students’ stomachs filled so their minds stay focused.
But the key to a good pantry is location. La Bodeguita de Fermi is intentionally placed where community members can easily access it.
As Superintendent Soler emphasized, “We know everybody knows how to get to the school… I think this will be the impetus to more food pantries across the city.”
Superintendent Soler also made sure to highlight the value of partnerships, such as the one the school made with Feeding Westchester:
“Partnerships with organizations like Feeding Westchester are vital to our success… the food pantry is the product, but the real power is the partnership.”
This partnership is indispensable in ensuring that resources are given to fulfill the needs of neighbors.
For Principal Rodriguez, though, the pantry represents more than physical nourishment—it also is a display of community.
“The pantry will help build community in our school because not only will we be open to our school, but for our outside community.”
This teaches students one of the most valuable lessons: community should always be taken care of.
The opening of La Bodeguita de Fermi was the perfect way to end the school year—with not only food, but hope.
And its significance will continue to be transformative in Yonkers.
As Superintendent Soler perfectly summarized:
“We know that if you have a need, just get to your neighborhood school… we’ll help you. We’ll help feed you, we’ll help clothe you—and at the end of the day we’ll also help educate your child.”
