The Viking Food Pantry is a Beacon of Hope in Lansdowne

In the heart of the Lansdowne community, the Viking Food Pantry at Lansdowne High School (LHS) stands as a beacon of hope, providing support to individuals and families facing food insecurity. More than just a place to receive groceries, the food pantry is a hub of resources, offering a range of services designed to uplift those in need.

Neighbors are greeted with hugs and smiles by the students and staff who help at the pantry. Students, neighbors, and families are building community and are receiving resources beyond the food on the shelves.

The pantry has been in operation since 2018 and has been steadily growing since LHS was designated a Baltimore County Public School Community School in 2024.

By addressing hunger and connecting people with opportunities, the Viking Food Pantry plays a crucial role in strengthening our neighborhood. Our mission is to distribute nutritious foods and help families struggling to make ends meet, and we do it through partnerships with Zahradka Farm, a local family farm, and the Maryland Food Bank.

Special education teacher Rhonda Bailey operates the pantry with the help of Community School Facilitator Joy Carey. A number of students, staff, and volunteers serve families twice a month when the pantry is open.

The student volunteers were recognized for their goodwill by being recognized by the Baltimore Ravens’ Honor Rows program, and Ms. Bailey was recognized by Councilman Young’s office for her dedication to the pantry and giving back to the community!

Making Connections to Get to Know Neighbors Better

June Lednum, a former student of Lansdowne High School, knows firsthand the challenges faced by families struggling to make ends meet. She takes care of her 81-year-old-mom, and says she relies on the Viking Food Pantry as a resource.

“Every little bit of help counts,” she said. With the resources the Viking Food Pantry provides, she’s made crabcakes, and Jewish apple cake, even sharing some with me!

Another neighbor, 92-year-old Goldie Heck, has one 12-year-old-grandchild and one toddler, chose baby wipes and with a smile on her face she, said, “I only get what I need.”

While waiting in line for their turn, another neighbor spoke to me about our food pantry. Maria stated, “In today’s economy, raising a family can be incredibly challenging, especially with multiple children to care for.”

Finding Familiar Foods and Friendship in a Convenient Place

For many parents, the rising cost of groceries has made it very difficult to provide meals for their kids. “It breaks my heart every time I have to tell my kids no,” says Maria, a mother of three. “It’s upsetting when you can’t afford to give your kids what they need.”

Like many families in this community, Maria’s household relies on classic staple foods like beans, rice, tortillas, and chicken to create filling and nutritious meals. However, even these basics have become increasingly difficult to afford. But that’s where the Viking Food Pantry comes in, providing essentials that may be hard to get otherwise.

Maria explains: “It’s a huge relief knowing we have access to these staples here, and so close to our homes.” Maria and countless families can put food on the table and provide their children with the nourishment they need to thrive.

Now more than ever, people in some communities might not feel as comfortable going out and exposing themselves, making them lack food, water, and sometimes even jobs. Maria, Ruth, Betha, and Elba have found comfort coming to Viking Food Pantry for help.

Another former student, Denise, shares a similar sentiment. “My siblings and even my kids went to this school,” she said. “I used to go to another food pantry, but I come to the Viking Food Pantry for support too.” Denise loves how close the pantry is to her home. “Lansdowne is my home, and it means so much to know that people are helping right here in my community.”

Now retired, Denise and her husband have found it more difficult to make ends meet on a fixed income. The Viking Food Pantry provides crucial support, Denise explained: “This really helps…you’re going to make me cry.” Telling me how hard it is now and how she has to “watch every penny.”

Reliable Resources Lead to Stronger Communities

The pantry experienced a steady increase in visitors, averaging around 50 families every other week last year, to nearly 70 every two weeks since the 2025-26 school year started. To provide more healthy options, the school uses a portion of its community school grant to purchase fresh produce from Zahradka Farm in Essex. The additional fruits and vegetables allow families to create meals and explore new types of food. Healthy meals lead to healthy students and a lower rate of absenteeism.

As the Viking Food Pantry looks to the future, its mission remains clear: to provide consistent and reliable support to those in need. This involves not only supplying essential food items but also fostering a sense of community and connection, leading families to healthier lives.

Ultimately, the Viking Food Pantry serves as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positive change. It’s a place where individuals, businesses, and organizations can come together to address a critical need in their community.

With continued support and devotion, the Viking Food Pantry will continue to be a beacon of hope, ensuring that everyone in the community has access to the nourishment they need to thrive, today and in the years to come.

The Viking Food Pantry at Lansdowne High School is one of the more than 170 school pantries which help make up our statewide network of community partners statewide that help families access nutritious foods and wraparound resources. And when passionate indiviuals like Melaney purposefully engage with neighbors at partner locations, stigma vanishes, comfort increases, and it creates a positive atmosphere where more Marylanders feel engaged and have the opportunity to thrive.