On Fridays at lunch, a new resource is offered to get fresh produce, food and school supplies for the Buena High community in room 200 as of Nov. 1, 2025. What started with an empathic teaching moment for special education teacher Eva Harris has now become an inclusive opportunity for students to bring home more than just homework, but also support with no questions asked.
“I had a student tell me that they didn’t want to go to fall break because there wasn’t any food in [their] house,” Harris said. “We realized there’s a need [at Buena] for some students of varying degrees.”
Thankfully, administrators like Principal Dr. Audrey Asplund and non-profit organizations such as Food Share have been extremely supportive in this project. Every week, Food Share puts together produce boxes from local farms featuring fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables. With high-quality, natural health foods being inaccessible to many low-income families, the Food Pantry is an incredible resource to provide not only snacks, but nutritious and even exotic ingredients into everyone’s household.
“Any time [Buena is] able to provide support and assistance for our students and our community that may be in need, it’s a good thing. I hope families take advantage of the food items that are available,” Asplund said.
The “no questions asked” policy creates an unspoken understanding that everyone comes from different backgrounds, and no matter what that means for each student, anyone can come and try new foods and take home backpacks for themselves or a family member.
After hearing about the pantry from peers and teachers, sophomore Sean Phillips found it hopeful, encouraging others to check it out and “spread the word”.
The opening day was very successful, with students being able to make choices for their own health and wellbeing with the help of Buena’s resources and generous staff. With projects like this being supported on a district level, the Ventura community can look forward into a future of education that teaches students that school should be a safe and providing environment that goes beyond typical academic expectations.
“It feels great to have Food Share and the pantry because people who don’t have the money to buy [fresh produce] can be helped,” freshman Matteo Roa said. “[The Food Pantry] helps people.”
