Jackie Flint finds comfort knowing elementary students are well-fed.  It’s a silver lining to Erin Maxwell’s tragic story.

“There’s like no better way to at least try to make something good out of it. I mean here I am 11 years later, I can’t talk about her without crying,” said Flint.

Erin was starved in a filthy house. In 2008, she was 11 when her stepbrother killed her.

Every weekend, volunteers at Erin’s Angels food pantry fill 75 backpacks with food, such as Ramen noodles, so no students here at Phoenix go hungry like Erin did.

“It’s still sad that it took something like this to make that happen but at the same time it’s one of the things that I can keep doing to kind of make it right,” said Flint.

Erin’s story resonates throughout the community. On her birthday, they celebrate her short life, proclaiming the day “Erin Maxwell Day” and bringing her gifts that will be shared with current students in need.

“It’s for the future of the children of this school,” said Clay resident Ruth Stania. “We just want to help them because they need our help at this time. That’s what this is about tonight.”

They say the Erin’s Angels pantry is Erin’s gift to the community. It’s grown from helping 17 to 75 students in just a few years.

Anyone in the community is encouraged to drop off donations.

Alan Jones was convicted of killing Erin Maxwell.  He was served 10 years in prison and was released on parole in 2018.