In the heart of Washington, D.C., E.L. Haynes Public Charter School has been anchored by the principle of inclusion since its founding in 2004. Our city’s rhythm—its culture and its complex politics—shapes our identity, and sometimes directly impacts our community.
In November, as the federal government slowdown tightened budgets for D.C. families, particularly affecting services like SNAP benefits, the impact was felt immediately within our walls. But at Haynes, obstacles are simply the backdrop for action; they are a call for the community to show up for itself.
“The beautiful thing about Haynes is that it allows families to show up and get the support that they need, whether it’s food insecurity, housing, or medical care,” said Health & Wellness Director Melissa Beasley. “We connect to families in a way that helps them understand that we are not here to judge anybody. We’re here to support them.”
This spirit of proactive care fueled an urgent, community-wide effort.
The Multiplier of Need
The effort began with a stark logistical challenge. Chief Operating Officer Pankaj Rayamajhi reached out to standard community partners such as Capital Food Bank and Martha’s Table, but found many were struggling with their own supply shortages following the federal slowdown.
To meet the rising need, Operations supplemented donations with bulk food from Costco. They collaborated with Project Give Back to secure 20 Thanksgiving box meals for families at both the middle and high schools.
A core operating philosophy guided the commitment. “We had a goal to support 50-100 families,” Pankaj said. “There was a lot of generosity from our community, but we always factor in more need. If ten families come to us for help, we operate under the principle that there are really 15 families that need support.”
This “Principle of 15” became the internal metric for the One Haynes community.
The Family Choice Table
Across our network—at the elementary, middle, and high schools—volunteers mobilized. Maria Boyer, Managing Director of Student Support Services, led the large-scale effort to ensure the Food Drive was accessible and dignified for Haynes families.
The team initially focused on supporting the 50 families per campus most immediately affected by the loss of SNAP benefits. But the critical addition was the Family Choice Table.
“We set up the food and supply pantry (now called the Haynes Mini Mart) so families can choose items to supplement the bags we’ve already made,” Maria explained. “In addition, we are handing out a QR code to families that links them to other local organizations supporting housing and other needs.”
By organizing bags of non-perishable items and ordering extra school lunches for students to take home, the teams centered their efforts around a foundational psychological principle: “We’ve focused on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Students can only be fully ready to learn when their basic needs are met, which is why supporting families through our food pantry is so important.”
For needs that stretched beyond the pantry, the school’s Mutual Aid Network Fund provided a critical safety net, backed by recurring and one-time donations from community members wanting to support one another. “Families might need more than food support, and the mutual aid fund can be used to support them in other ways,” Melissa added.
Haynes is already thinking ahead, determined to be proactive in meeting future needs. “We’re planning for the unknown,” Pankaj said. “We’ll continue trying to partner with other organizations, but Haynes is nimble enough to be able to replicate these efforts in the future.”
Written by Griffin Pepper | Griffin Pepper is the 12th-grade Sociology and DC History teacher at E.L. Haynes High School. This is his ninth year in the Haynes community, and his 14th year in the classroom. When not teaching, Griffin enjoys spending as much time as possible with his wife, daughter, and dog.