Patriotic spirit: Parkersburg South’s 1974 graduating class donates to school lunch for 50th class reunion | News, Sports, Jobs

Members of the Parkersburg South High School graduating class of 1974 present a donation check and food items for the school’s food pantry in the cafeteria on Monday. Pictured, from left, are graduating class of 1974 members Floyd Palmer, Cindy (Weekley) Marks, Delores (Westbrook) Bibbee and Anne (Bower) McFee, English teacher and food pantry director Hannah Jarman, graduating class of 1974 member Debbie (Fleak) Sleeth and principal Maria Francisco. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG – Parkersburg South High School’s 1974 graduating class capped off its 50th reunion activities Monday with a donation of nearly $3,000 to their alma mater’s food bank.

“I think that’s great,” said Hannah Jarman, an English teacher at Southern University who runs the food pantry, after Debbie Sleeth, a graduate of the class of 1974, presented her with the check for $2,805 in the school cafeteria.

“We will use it wisely,” Said Rector Maria Francisco.

The pantry provides food to students in need, whether it is a one-time supply, a weekly delivery or meal packages for holidays and longer vacations, Jarman said.

“Teachers are often the first to notice children in need,” she said.

In addition to a $2,805 donation, members of Parkersburg South High School’s 1974 graduating class also collected items for the school’s food bank at their recent 50th class reunion. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

Sleeth said every five years the class likes to do a collection and donate at least $1,000 to a program at the school. This year they chose the food bank and raised the money through a silent auction that featured original paintings, handmade jewelry, Blenko glass, ships in bottles, gift baskets and more.

“We know that so many children have to get by without,” Said Sleeth. “Someone suggested the food distribution and we (the committee organizing the meeting) all said yes.”

Donations were accepted throughout the reunion festivities Aug. 2-4. Activities included golf, pickleball, meals and a bus tour for some alumni who had moved away to see how Parkersburg has changed. Some class members donated food, which was also delivered Monday, while others donated separately. Donations were also requested in memory of Mark Florence, a member of the Class of 1974 who passed away in July, Sleeth said.

Jarman, who graduated from South in 2011, said she was moved to see alumni giving back to current students.

“It feels more like home,” she said.

Anyone interested in contributing to the food pantry can contact the school and ask for Jarman.

Evan Bevins can be reached at [email protected]