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Memorial High School presents, "Free Food Friday"

By Alden Farrow, Memorial High School, School Buzz Reporter | October 13, 2023

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Student Council Members distributing popcorn and snow cones. From left: Alexia Papakyriacou, Claire Rouse, Charlotte Stiles.

Memorial High School’s Student Council has just begun offering “Free Food Friday” or “FFF” to all students at Memorial High School during their lunch period. Every other Friday, snacks like popcorn, cotton candy, and snow cones are offered to students free of charge. MHS Student Council ordered a new snow cone, popcorn, and cotton candy machine to distribute at various events this year.

The first time STUCO held Free Food Friday, on September 15th, all the snacks sold out, with 300 snow cones handed out and 200 popcorn bags distributed. Lines of students wrapped the cafeteria waiting for their sweet treat. Due to the popularity, this event is limited to every other Friday rather than each week.

“We hope and will ensure that this event will become a staple at [Memorial] going forward,” Student Council President Crawford Freeman said. This idea was brought about due to the Student Council’s new leadership: president Crawford Freeman and new teacher sponsor, Lisa Williams.

“We wanted to give out these treats to boost school morale and increase the Student Council’s presence in Memorial,” Freeman said. Student Council members volunteer every two weeks to man the machines, giving the elected representatives the opportunity to serve the student body that elected them.

The motivation behind the day was quite simple.“Who doesn’t love free food?” Freeman said. While the menu is currently limited, Student Council hopes to expand the snack options and snow cone flavors. MHS Student Council hopes that the free snacks makes students and teachers feel better after a long day of work.

This event, while seemingly small, has the ability to impact the school greatly. Student’s excitement centers around their lunch period. On Free Food Fridays, every student and faculty member is encouraged to participate. I participated on September 29th and saw the gratitude of students and faculty after receiving their treats. Even after the event had its debut on the 15th, students returned once again with lines just as long as the first time.

Free Food Friday has provided a fun activity for all students to feel a necessary sense of community in a big high school. Enthusiasm is encouraged and every student is brought together. Student’s smile and talk to the others around them in line. President Freeman hopes the free snacks “make people feel better about themselves.” MHS Student Council hopes to not only continue this event but also bring more people into the fold at MHS.