CHARLOTTE, NC. — Two Charlotte middle schoolers used a school project to help neighbors in need.

What You Need To Know

  • Two brothers built a pantry in front of school to help neighbors in need

  • Before they returned to school in person, they went to the school building to put food in the pantry

  • The family wants the project to continue even after they graduate from middle school

Rafael and Vaughn Reed attend Piedmont Open IB Middle School. As part of a community project for the International Baccalaureate, the twins chose to do a food pantry in front of their school.

Over winter break, the eighth graders built it with the help of their dad, Alfred.

“It’s a great project. This is a great location given some of the homelessness we have in the area,” Alfred says.

They decided to build a pantry in front of the school after seeing homeless neighbors living in a tent encampment nearby.

“We decided to do this food pantry to give people access to food,” Vaughn says.

Even though tent city is no longer there, they know other neighbors still need their help.

“I love food. I love eating it. I love sharing it with people, and I believe everybody should be able to eat food,” Rafael says.

When the Reed brothers initially put the pantry in front of the building, the children were not attending school in person. However, they made sure they stopped by often to fill its shelves.

“This is not only a project. This will have a positive impact in the community for years to come,” Vaughn explains.

The project started with them but with support from their teacher, Maranda Thornburg, other school staff, family members and neighbors, they are keeping the pantry full.

Their mom, Jevelyn Bonner-Reed says the children are also involved in other organizations that give back, including Boy Scouts of America.

“I’m really proud of them, that they learned the lessons in those organizations and even through our family, to give back and support the community,” Bonner-Reed says.

She hopes other eighth graders take over the project next school year.

“This issue is not going away this year. It’s something we need to sustain,”Bonner-Reed adds.

The Reed brothers will be graduating from middle school this year, but their mom says they will likely remain involved with the project.

Piedmont Open IB Middle School is located at 1241 East 10th Street in Charlotte.