A Swansea teacher has started a pilot program to help hungry kids and families.

Every Thursday, Swansea High School’s Jobs for America’s Graduates program packs bags for families in need.

“The kids get involved and they see firsthand how it does impact and how not only can it help their families but other families in need,” 1st Sergeant Michael Rowland told WIS-TV.

Teacher Tammy Jones leads the program and the District 4 food pantry she says reaches 700 to 800 people a month.

Teacher Tammy Jones leads a food pantry program that she says reaches hundreds of people a month.

“The need is great in this area,” Jones said.

The district’s 2017-2018 poverty rate was 79%.

“My file cabinet was the food pantry,” Jones said.

“I contacted Harvest Hope because I’d heard about the backpack program, and I asked them if they had anything for teenagers that don’t have anything to eat when they go home.

They said ‘Hey, we’ve got this idea. Would you like to be this first school to pilot a food pantry?’”