Downingtown Area School District (DASD) recently partnered with It Takes A Village Community (ITAVC) of Chester County to help combat food insecurity within the DASD community. Community food boxes have been installed at Beaver Creek Elementary School, 601 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Downingtown, and East Ward Elementary School, 435 Washington Ave., Downingtown.

Known in DASD as "Buddy Boxes," the outdoor pantries contain nonperishable food items and toiletries donated by members of the community. The Buddy Boxes will remain unlocked at all times, and community members are invited to donate or take items at any time, for any reason.

The Buddy Boxes are among several initiatives planned for next school year that will address food insecurity within the district. In the fall, students will decorate the boxes as part of these ongoing efforts.

The Buddy Boxes at Beaver Creek and East Ward elementary schools were built by Henry Blankmeyer from Boy Scout Troop 23. Blankmeyer is a 2022 graduate of Downingtown High School East and attends Penn State University.

Additional community food boxes are available throughout the community. To learn more about the boxes, visit http://www.ittakesavillagecc.org/food-boxes.html.