Gateway High School students Christina Parks and Gabrielle “Gabby” Soto are leading a community conversation focused on food insecurity, food pantry access, and ways to make food support more useful and respectful for local families.

The students have been studying food scarcity in Wapello County and learning from community organizations, food pantry volunteers, food drives, and families who rely on food assistance. Their goal is to bring people together to talk about what is working, what could be improved, and how food boxes or pantry systems could better meet the real needs of families.

In addition to hosting the community conversation, Christina and Gabby are also helping organize end-of-year meal kits for local families. Students are gathering donations, contacting community partners, and placing food orders to help bridge the gap between the time school gets out and when summer meal programs begin. The goal is to provide families with practical food items that can help them get through those first couple of weeks when school meals are no longer available, but summer food supports have not fully started yet.

For Christina, the project is personal. “The reason I chose to work on food pantry support instead of another community project is because I want to help people who are struggling with food,” Christina said. “My family has gone through this, and I want to help people who are in situations like my family has been in.”

Gabby said that personal experience helps students understand what kind of support is actually helpful  “I agree with Christina,” Gabby said. “When you have been through something, you understand what people need and what actually helps. That makes you want to help others who are going through the same thing.”

Through the community conversation, Christina hopes to learn how food boxes can be improved so families receive items that work together and help create full meals.

“I hope we can figure out how to make food boxes better for families,” Christina said. “Sometimes people get part of what they need, but then they still have to go to the store and buy the rest when they may not have the money. I want families to get food that actually helps them make meals.”

Christina also hopes the conversation leads to more dignity for people using food pantries.

“Another thing I hope to accomplish is helping people feel less embarrassed when they need food,” Christina said. “I think people should be able to get what they need with dignity, almost like shopping at a grocery store, but without having to pay.”

Gabby hopes the conversation helps the community find systems that feel fair, useful, and comfortable for families.  “I hope we can find new ways to help people that feel equal and respectful,” Gabby said. “People should be able to get help without feeling uncomfortable.”

For Christina, the project connects directly to people she loves.

“My family is the main reason I chose to do this,” Christina said. “I have family members who are taking care of kids and grandparents, and food can be a struggle. That is one of the reasons I wanted to do this project, because I want to help families like mine.”

The community conversation and meal kit project are part of Gateway High School’s continued effort to connect classroom learning with real community issues. Students are not only researching problems, but also listening to community members, asking questions, gathering resources, and working toward practical solutions.


Community Conversation: Food Insecurity and Food Distribution in Wapello County hosted by Gateway High School student leaders Christina Parks and Gabriella Soto.
Join students and community partners to talk about what is already working, where gaps still exist, and how we can improve food access in Wapello County.

Event Details

• When: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
• Time: 4:00 to 6:00 PM
• Where: Gateway High School, 907 Gateway Drive, Ottumwa

Who Should Attend

• Food Pantry Volunteers
• Food Drive Organizers
• Churches
• Nonprofits
• Schools
• Agencies
• Families
• Community Members

Together, we can build a stronger, healthier Wapello County.

Questions: Amanda LeGrande, amanda.legrande@ottumwaschools.com or (641) 799-4204

Sponsored by Legacy Foundation