Service project feeds families at Old Rochester Junior High
Andrew Cody is a seventh grader Old Rochester Regional Junior High School from Rochester. Photos by Mari Huglin
Andrew shows off the computer system he uses to track inventory.
Andrew stands in front of the food pantry he helped start and organize.
The food pantry is located on the first floor of the Junior High School.
Andrew and his computer in front of the food pantry.
Andrew and his science teacher and club advistor, Lauren O'Brien.
Andrew explains the system he uses to organize all the items.
The pantry is full of dry goods and school supplies. 
Andrew shows more details of the pantry.
Shelves are full of non-perishable foods.
Knit wear is also avaliable for those who need it. 
Andrew fills these boxes with orders and adds the stickers to the outside. 
There are shelves under the main shelves for more items.
The scanner Andrew uses to inventory items.
School supplies and hygenie products are in the pantry too.
Andrew Cody is a seventh grader Old Rochester Regional Junior High School from Rochester. Photos by Mari Huglin
Andrew shows off the computer system he uses to track inventory.
Andrew stands in front of the food pantry he helped start and organize.
The food pantry is located on the first floor of the Junior High School.
Andrew and his computer in front of the food pantry.
Andrew and his science teacher and club advistor, Lauren O'Brien.
Andrew explains the system he uses to organize all the items.
The pantry is full of dry goods and school supplies.
Andrew shows more details of the pantry.
Shelves are full of non-perishable foods.
Knit wear is also avaliable for those who need it.
Andrew fills these boxes with orders and adds the stickers to the outside.
There are shelves under the main shelves for more items.
The scanner Andrew uses to inventory items.
School supplies and hygenie products are in the pantry too.
MATTAPOISETT — Seventh-grader Andrew Cody rushes around a small room in his junior high school’s building. He’s busy scanning the barcodes of the dry goods packed into the space with a scanner connected to his computer.
He cuts out stickers and places them on nondescript cardboard boxes used to deliver food to students at the school.
The 13-year-old Rochester resident runs a food pantry at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School for families struggling with food insecurity. He manages, organizes and boxes all the pantry’s orders himself.
“Once I get involved in something, I don't really like to quit,” Andrew said. “When I'm helping somebody out with something, that's my main reasoning for it.”
The pantry began when Principal Silas Coellner gave the Student Affairs Committee — which Andrew is on — funds to start a year-round food pantry for their community in November 2025.
Lauren O’Brien, the seventh grade science teacher and supervisor for the Student Affairs Committee, said she jumped at the opportunity for students to begin the project.
Andrew took over managing and organizing the pantry in December, and spends about three hours a week working there as part of his work on the committee.
The pantry is stocked with food, snacks, school supplies and hygiene products, including soap and deodorant.
Each shelf has a letter and barcode corresponding to what is stocked on its shelf. Andrew scans this barcode to easily package what items are needed from a list he gets from Coellner.
He uses a computer system on his school laptop to track inventory and easily find each item.
“I just like to be organized and manage stuff and look at inventory,” Andrew said. “It's like a hobby so I have fun doing it.”
The program serves any student or family struggling with food insecurity. Families can sign up for food delivery or pick-up.
Everything is private and confidential, and the pantry operates during weekends, school breaks and holidays.
“We're here to serve any family in the Tri-town for seventh- and eighth- grade students who may need support,” O’Brien said.
Andrew said the hardest part of running the pantry is ensuring every order is correct.
He diligently checks expiration dates and for allergens so people receive the best products. He also cleans the pantry to stop cross-contamination for food allergies.
Despite the challenges of running the pantry, he said the best part is “the amount of people we can help with it.”
I'm really proud of the amount of work I've been able to accomplish just generally,” Andrew said.
O’Brien said she is proud of the work Student Affairs Committee members like Andrew have done. She said the group does real work they can see the impact of.
She added Andrew is a role model for other students, and said he is kind and looks out for his peers through service and in class.
“If you're in need of a friend, a peer, a lunch buddy, talk to Andrew,” O’Brien said. “He has first hand experience on the impact that he's made and that he's going to continue to make in eighth grade.”
O’Brien said she hopes more families will take advantage of this program.
“We're here to help and we have a great group of students who are leading the way,” she said.
“We have plenty of food, plenty to go around,” Andrew added. “Take advantage of the program, it's 100% worth it and confidential.”
To request food from the pantry, contact Coellener at silascoellener@oldrochester.org.
