SPOT resource rooms report rising need; volunteers and donors asked to help
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Summary
SPOT leaders told the Victor board their school‑based resource program served 282 backpack recipients this fall, is seeing a 25% projected increase in backpacks next year and a 29% rise in food requests since September; SPOT operates resource rooms in every building and runs a no‑questions‑asked monthly food distribution funded by community donations and grants.
SPOT representatives told the Victor Central School District Board on Tuesday that demand for basic needs support has grown markedly and asked the district and community for continued referrals and donor partnerships.
Carly Bradley, Victor program director for SPOT, said the program provided 282 backpacks at the back‑to‑school event this fall and is expecting roughly a 25% increase in need next year. She described resource rooms in each school stocked with school supplies, snacks and clothing and said the program follows a "no‑questions‑asked" policy so staff can provide help quickly and discreetly.
Leah Thomas, Executive Director designate, said SPOT’s monthly food distribution sends about 19 pounds of food home with participating families and doubles that amount for winter break. "We've seen a 29% increase since September in the need," she said, adding that the program is partnering with Foodlink, Wegmans and Aldi to stock pantries and relies heavily on volunteers.
Bradley said SPOT has a $100,000 operating budget supported by community donors, businesses, grants and fundraising events. She invited board members and staff to tour resource rooms and emphasized that the SPOT model works through close collaboration with school social workers and staff to remove barriers to learning.
The board thanked SPOT for the presentation and for maintaining services during peak need periods.