Students at Oak Harbor middle and high schools in need of food do have options through a program run by Whidbey Presbyterian Church.

The church provides weekend bags of food to students in need at both the middle schools.

They were also providing bags to students at the high school and alternative high school, but changed to a pantry system, said Ellen Peters, who volunteers with the program.

Through the pantry, students can come and take what they will need for the weekend, but it is also available throughout the week.

The program is funded entirely by the church and its members, Peters said.

Students are identified and the program is facilitated through the school counselors, similar to the Rotary Club’s Food4Kids program, which supplies bags of weekend food to the elementary schools in Oak Harbor.

Peters said the bag program will kick off at the end of September for this school year, and she has already stocked pantries at the high schools.

Any students or families in need should contact their school counselor about the program, Peters said.