By Rosie Smith
When students need to visit the school nurse, Mrs. Amy Powderly, they might have noticed shelves of food behind the door between Powderly’s office and the main office. This new addition is the Rocket Fuel Pantry, added for the 2025-2026 school year.
In October, Mrs. Jenni Tumser, administrative assistant to the principal, presented the idea for the Rocket Fuel Pantry to the administrative team. Tumser said she brought the idea to the administrative team as a way to help students who need nourishment. Once approved, receptionist and attendance coordinator, Mrs. Jill Cheek, and school nurse, Mrs. Amy Powderly, assisted on how to organize and execute the plan. The pantry is now stocked with breakfast and lunch items. “As a whole, different communities were going to be affected by the government shutdown, and it concerned me, and I just wanted to make sure that if our students needed anything they had access to it,” Tumser said.
Tumser also added that the pantry was to help students who need a snack lunch, or might be running low on funds.
The pantry is located across from Mrs. Powderly’s office, because it is a comfortable space for students. “I think the kids feel comfortable coming in, and when kids aren’t feeling good, or are having a rough day, they may pop in and it’s just very easily accessible,” Tumser said.
Tumser shared the idea’s origin was from her own experience. “Many of us, myself included, have struggled at one point in life—whether it was with food, clothing, shelter, or some other need. We never truly know how full someone else’s plate is,” she said.
She also explained that the Catholic social teachings highlight the importance of giving to the community.
“Our Catholic social teachings call us to respond with acts of charity, such as providing food through the corporal works of mercy. This spirit of compassion reflects who we are as a community: people bound together through both the exceptional days and the days when we face hardship,” Tumser added.
The McNicholas Milestone 