WARREN, Ohio - Warren City Schools is taking its food assistance program beyond the classroom, launching its first mobile food pantry to bring groceries and essential items directly into neighborhoods.

The pantry made its debut Friday afternoon at Trumbull Homes, where it was parked outside the community center from noon to 1 p.m.

Families were able to pick up fresh produce, pantry staples and toiletries at no cost.

For years, the district has stocked shelves inside its buildings to support families, but the need is growing, with about 250 students utilizing school pantries weekly.

Now, that service is going beyond the classroom and into the community for the first time, on wheels.

“We're seeing more and more food insecurities," said Shaina Shardy, school community liaison at Willard, "A lot of times, the students have a hard time bringing the heavy bags home from our school pantries. So this way, we're able to address it right in the neighborhoods, and we're able to come right to them." 

The mobile pantry rolled into Trumbull Homes for a one-hour test run on Friday afternoon, giving anyone the chance to pick up items. 

Shardy said she has been preparing to launch this project for years.

She said the entire effort cost about $25,000, made possible through donations from Community Bus Service, United Way of Trumbull County and the Cafaro family.

“I'm just super excited that it's finally here," she said, "It's been a dream for a long time." 

At least 60 people came out on Friday.

One Warren woman said the pantry made a difference for her family.

“I really appreciate this bus, because right at this moment, I really didn't have too much of nothing, but they saved me," said Gladys Marie Mills of Warren. So when the kids come home, they can be all happy because they got the apples and the oranges and the juice and, you know, something to eat." 

The pantry is an extension of the district's Raider Pantry program.

The district is already planning to take the mobile pantry to another neighborhood sometime before Thanksgiving in the Jefferson School neighborhood.