By Tabatha Fitzgerald
Southport High School intern

From just one local organization, more than 4,000 meals are sent out daily to 85 different places like homeless shelters and pantries. The goal is to send out 5,000 meals every day and 1 million annually. 

Second Helpings, whose motto is Transforming lives through the power of food, is that organization. It was started in 1998 by three chefs who saw a need to curtail food waste. Second Helpings has a three-part mission: food rescue, hunger relief, culinary job training.

“It’s more than just nourishing our bodies,” said Adriane Rios, manager of volunteer services. “It’s kind of nourishing your soul on a deeper level.”

Southport High School family and consumer sciences teacher Raye Jordan was looking for volunteer work in the fall of 2016 when she ran across Second Helpings, which needed help on Thursday evenings. Her church only offered volunteer programs during the day, and that didn’t fit into Jordan’s time schedule. 

It wasn’t long before she was taking her students. “It’s got a little special place in my heart,” Jordan said, “because I know that we’re giving back and helping those who need it.”

Southport is one of many schools that has students who volunteer at Second Helpings; however, Southport is the only school whose students volunteer monthly, according to Rios. 

The agency is a volunteer-driven organization in Downtown Indianapolis with 28 staff members and about 750 volunteers. Volunteers rescue food that would be thrown away by restaurants and stores, prepare meals, deliver food, man the front desk, do laundry and even tend to the garden.

Volunteers have the opportunity to go through the whole process of Second Helpings, starting out with rescuing the food and ending with delivering it to places in need. The majority of volunteers spend their time in the kitchen, but if there is a need for a delivery driver or any other position, volunteers are happy to help.

“It’s always really neat when you hear of a volunteer who has rescued the food; they’ve been in the kitchen; they’ve prepared the food; then they’ve also delivered the food,” said Rios, who can be emailed at [email protected] for more information. “I think they get a much richer volunteer experience that way.”

Rios said she enjoys having student volunteers from Southport. Each person who comes in a group on Thursday has the opportunity to bring their friends with them. Rios says there have been students who have come on a Thursday and returned Saturday with their friends for an orientation program.

Jordan is open to bringing anyone who wants to go with her. She enjoys watching students use their cooking skills to help others and give back to the city. Jordan has noticed that student are typically quiet on the way to Second Helpings, but on the way home they have plenty to talk about.
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“Usually when the kids leave they’re ready to go back,” said Jordan, who can be contacted at [email protected]. “It makes you feel really good that you can do something to help others.”

Perry Township Schools

We are in the homestretch. In two days we will witness the commencement of approximately 990 students from Perry Meridian and Southport high schools. It’s been a year to remember as our students and staff have shown incredible strength and perseverance. We are honored to celebrate their successes.

Perry Meridian and Southport have announced their valedictorians and salutatorians. 

Raul Moreno tops Perry Meridian’s senior class with a 4.63 GPA – a remarkable achievement for anyone, especially a student who spoke no English when he arrived in Perry Township when he was 5. Despite the challenge of learning a new language, Raul thrived.
He has competed in cross-country, swimming/diving, track and volleyball and has been active in the Creative Writing Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and Blue Crew. He served as class president in student voice for the past two years. 
Moreno plans to study astrophysics at Indiana University as a Wells Scholar. The honor is awarded on the basis of merit and provides tuition, academic fees and a living-expenses stipend for four years.

Perry Meridian’s salutatorian honor belongs to David Seals, who  earned a 4.58 GPA. He is a four-year member of the varsity tennis team and orchestra and is active in Key Club, Blue Crew and Math Club, where he earned a first place this year. He plans to study aeronautical and astronautical engineering at Iowa State.

Southport has named Kaylie Turner as its valedictorian. She has 4.76 GPA and a record of achieving excellence in the most rigorous courses. She is the first student in Southport’s history to be named an Indiana Academic All-Star, a distinction that recognizes seniors who excel in the classroom and take on leadership roles in their schools and communities. 
Turner is president of the Riley Dance Marathon and served as a member of the 4-H Foundation’s state committee. Her next adventure awaits at the University of Mississippi, where she intends to study economics and Spanish with a concentration in pre-law.

Kelsey Andreis, who earned a 4.72 GPA, is Southport’s salutatorian. She was placed in our district’s gifted and talented program during her early elementary years. She goes out of her way to help with community events, including watching preschoolers during meetings, selling T-shirts for a fallen officer and leading school fundraisers.
Andreis plans to study neuroscience at IU.
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We are proud of the students who will walk across the stage this week, as well as the scholars who are on the path to do the same in the future. We look forward to celebrating graduation at 6 p.m. Friday at Southport and 8 p.m. at Perry Meridian.