As she prepared to graduate from South Side High School and begin the next chapter of her life, 18-year-old Emily Kramer decided to leave a lasting impact on her community by organizing a food drive for Sharon’s Pantry in Rockville Centre.
The project, completed as part of South Side High School’s Creativity, Activity, Service program, collected an estimated $1,000 to $1,500 worth of nonperishable food and household essentials, helping replenish the pantry’s shelves ahead of the summer season.
“I ended up getting a lot of donations, which was very exciting,” Kramer said. “It made me feel really good about everything.”
The CAS program requires graduating seniors to complete a community service project during the final weeks of their senior year before presenting their work to classmates and faculty. For Kramer, choosing Sharon’s Pantry was an easy decision after volunteering there last summer.
“I knew it was going to make a big impact on the pantry, especially during the summer,” she said.
To organize the drive, Kramer contacted Sharon’s Pantry Chair Rena Riback to learn which items were most needed. Using that list, she created flyers and posters, assembled donation bags and distributed them throughout her neighborhood, encouraging residents to contribute.
The community responded enthusiastically. Bags of donated food quickly accumulated, providing valuable support for families experiencing food insecurity and exceeding Kramer’s expectations.
Beyond organizing the collection, Kramer also volunteered at the pantry, assisting with food distributions, sorting inventory, checking expiration dates and restocking shelves. She handed food directly to families during distributions, an experience that reinforced the importance of community service and helping others.
“It was really exciting and made me feel really good seeing the people and the smiles on their faces,” Kramer said, “knowing they were getting food for their families.”
As Kramer prepares to attend the University of Alabama this fall to study nursing, her volunteer work reflects a lifelong commitment to helping others. She said pursuing a nursing career felt like a natural extension of that passion for service.
“Everyone runs across tough times,” Nicole Kramer, Emily’s mother, said, “and there are so many people in our community who are willing to help.”
While Sharon’s Pantry regularly welcomes students completing community service projects, Riback said many continue volunteering long after fulfilling their required hours.
“I think it’s wonderful to get the youth involved,” she said. “That’s really important, so they can see what some of their neighbors are going through in terms of food deprivation and see who those people are. It can be people from all walks of life.”
Although the holiday season is traditionally the pantry’s busiest time, Sharon’s Pantry continues to serve about 100 people during each distribution throughout the summer.
The pantry remains an important resource for anyone facing difficult circumstances, regardless of their background or stage of life, and organizers hope more people become aware that help is available when they need it.
For more information about Sharon’s Pantry, visit SharonsPantry.org.
