Paducah Students Ditch Spring Break to Feed 900 Families

While her classmates headed to the beach, Alessandra Montorbrookes spent her spring break packing grocery bags for strangers who would soon become friends.

The Paducah Tilghman High School sophomore joined other students at Paducah Cooperative Ministry this week, stepping in during a critical volunteer shortage. The faith-based nonprofit feeds 800 to 900 households each month in McCracken County, Kentucky, and spring break typically leaves them short-handed.

Montorbrookes spent Wednesday filling bags with canned goods and meeting families who came to pick up their orders. For her, the work goes beyond checking off volunteer hours.

"It really helped me to get out and know what the locals' issues are in our community and just how I can help in my own way," she said.

Will Brandon, community engagement coordinator for PCM, said holidays and school breaks create predictable gaps in their volunteer schedule. But students with free time often discover something more valuable than a vacation.

"They get hands-on experience of learning why we do it, the reason to do it, and that extra why of seeing the people that they get to benefit and impact," Brandon explained.

The Ripple Effect

These student volunteers aren't just filling an immediate need. They're learning firsthand about poverty and food insecurity in their own backyard, building empathy that will shape how they engage with their community for years to come.

Brandon noted that while PCM maintains strong volunteer numbers year-round, the real challenge isn't finding helping hands. It's securing enough food, funding, and sponsorships to fill those hands with groceries worth giving.

The ministry welcomes support in any form: donated food, financial contributions, or time. But this spring break, a few dedicated students proved that showing up when others step away makes all the difference.