Dina M. Needham is, the Johnston Town Council let it be known Monday night, a “special person and extraordinary teacher.”
For the past 17 years, Needham has been a special education teacher at Winsor Hill Elementary School.
Her accomplishments, however, have meaning and value that extend beyond her first-floor room at the school.
For the past eight years, Needham has been running the Winsor Hill School Food Pantry to make sure that children from families in need don’t go hungry.
That’s why District 2 Councilman Anthony A. Verardo summoned Needham to Monday night’s session, where she was showered with praise and presented with a special citation.
“The Johnston Town Council would like to express its appreciation and gratitude for your outstanding and tireless dedication in serving and caring for the children of Johnston,” reads an official citation that Needham received after Verardo explained just how valuable she has been to the school district. “Your selflessness and compassion has truly exemplified what it means to be an outstanding teacher and exceptional person. You are a true role model, not only to the students at Winsor Hill School, but also to our entire community. We hereby extend our support and deepest gratitude for all that you do.”
Word of what Needham has done – and continues to do – reached the desk of Alan Shawn Feinstein, who showed up at Winsor Hill on Monday with a check for $2,000 that will be used to purchase food and keep the school’s food pantry stocked.
“When I first learned that there’s an ongoing problem of hunger here in Johnston, I became angry,” Verardo said while introducing Needham at Monday’s meeting. “No child should have to go to school hungry. It’s an issue – a huge issue – that needs addressing, and that’s what Mrs. Needham has done.”
It was eight years ago that Needham noticed an increase in the number of children who seemed to be missing some of the most basic needs, such as clothes and food.
“Many children would clearly come to school hungry,” Needham told Verardo. “And that would increase the chances of them becoming sick and decrease their learning ability.”
And for those people who know Needham, she’s not one to sit back and let someone else fight the battle.
Thus, she established a food program within the school that helps to meet some of the needs. She began to solicit donations from fellow teachers, parents and even local businesses and created a food pantry in her classroom, where she continues to store canned food, cereal, breads and basic breakfast foods.
Then, as Verardo noted Monday, children in need are provided a reusable grocery bag that is filled with various foods that help to keep them fed throughout the week.
“The process is performed with respect and privacy to both the children and the families,” Verardo said. “The families are in direct contact with Mrs. Needham, and the food is taken home by the child, picked up by a parent or in some cases driven to them by Dina on her personal time.”
The effort has grown through the years to meet the growing need. Evidence of that are the work of the staff at Winsor Hill and the multiple food drives that Needham runs throughout the year. She has also partnered with Feinstein, who donates one dollar for every non-perishable food items that is donated. That funding has totaled $10,000 over the last few years, a figure that does not include Monday’s $2,000 check.
Winsor Hill has also partnered with Dental Associates of RI, as well as the Johnston Fire Department.
“The fire department helps us greatly throughout the year,” Needham said while thanking Battalion Chief Richard Boehm, who heads that portion of the food drive. “Also, a special thank you to Councilman Verardo and Rep. Stephen Ucci. They purchased a refrigerator for our food pantry.”
Verardo also on Monday noted that Needham and other school staffers distribute food baskets at Thanksgiving.
“She even gets her mother involved in her programs,” Verardo said. “She also runs a toy and clothes drive for Christmas that has adopted additional families for 2014.”
Needham has also helped start similar programs at Thornton and Sarah Dyer Barnes Elementary Schools in Johnston.
“It is my hope that this pantry continues to help the wonderful children at our school,” Needham said after receiving a standout ovation Monday. “And put food in their mouths and smiles on their faces.”
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