Community Corner

Superhero School Librarian Helps Feed 500 Hungry Kids a Week

Shauna Yusko battles cancer while serving as the founder and manager of the nonprofit Pantry Packs. Sponsored by Grape-Nuts.

This post was written by Kathleen F. Miller.

About this sponsorship: In honor of the 60th anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historic ascent of Mount Everest, Patch and Grape-Nuts are teaming up to highlight those who inspire people around them to climb their own mountains.

Evergreen Middle School Librarian Shauna Yusko may lack a fancy costume, except for her collection of brightly colored wigs, but many in her community see her as a real life superhero. 

In 2010, the Redmond, WA, woman founded the nonprofit organization Pantry Packs, which provides meals and snacks to more than 500 hungry children in 30 Lake Washington School District schools, ranging from preschool through high school. Pantry Packs serves children in need who are identified by school counselors, teachers or administrators. They are provided with weekly packs of food for meals and snacks to take home. The program relies entirely on donations and the work of volunteers. 

Yusko, 41, was honored for her work this year by Seattle’s Center for Ethical Leadership with the 2013 Bill Grace Leadership Legacy Award. And Yusko, a wife and mom of a 15-year-old and 10-year-old, continues to lead the program despite the challenges of battling breast cancer. She inspires many of her fellow cancer warriors with her blog, My Angry Cancer, and her constant positive attitude. 

Q. What is the biggest challenge you've taken on?
 
A. “The biggest challenge I am currently facing is my ongoing battle with Stage 3 breast cancer. It has obviously taken its toll on me since being diagnosed in October. I recently completed 20 weeks of chemotherapy, which is an exciting milestone, and will be moving on to radiation and more surgeries in the months ahead.  "It has been tough to keep up with everything else that life throws at you as a parent, wife, teacher, etc., but I still value my work with Pantry Packs and I am glad that I can contribute. Though I had to put my goals for our organization on hold this year, I am grateful for the amazing people that have stepped up to help keep the program running smoothly.”

Q. How do you plan to meet this challenge?
 
A. “My No. 1 goal right now is to get healthy and beat this stupid cancer. It is a constant battle, with new challenges every day. You just have to keep getting up every day with a smile on your face. And look for the humor. Trust me, it’s out there.  "Long-term, my goal would be to make people understand that there are hungry children in every community. And that, unlike cancer, childhood hunger is a 'disease' with a 'cure' if only those with the power to make decisions would realize that ending childhood hunger would solve many other problems in our communities and our schools. So many of the current problems in education could be solved if we all started talking about nutrition instead of test scores.”

Q. What will you do when you succeed?
 
A. “I would love to see a day when Pantry Packs, or the numerous programs like it around the country, do not need to exist. That would be a day to celebrate indeed! And I will definitely be celebrating the day I can mark '5 Years Cancer Free.'"


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