Sacramento Teen Builds High-Tech Food Pantries For People In Need

A Sacramento teen is doing her part to help people out during this pandemic and an unusual holiday season.

Ashley Jun is an 18-year-old C.K. McClatchy High School senior and she's helping bring food to people in need around Sacramento.

Jun has built high-tech neighborhood food pantries and has placed them around different neighborhoods in the city.

The neighborhood food pantry idea started as her senior project, a graduation requirement for all seniors in the Sacramento City Unified School District.

"I wanted to do something for the community," Jun told KCRA3.

As people face rent and food insecurity due to the pandemic, Jun hopes the project will help those who may be struggling.

"Basically people can see it, they can walk up, they can look for something that they want, maybe something that looks tasty to them, and then they can just take it home," Jun said.

The pantries are motioned censored. When someone picks up an item, Jun gets an email telling her when a shelf needs to be restocked.

Although she has had to take some items from her own pantry at home, she's received help from the community. Some people have been filling up her pantry boxes on their own.

The pantries, which feature the McClatchy High School Lions logo, are set up on Carlson Drive & State Ave., 40th & H Streets, 26th & Q Streets, and on Portola Way and Franklin Boulevard.

Photo: Getty Images