Tracy Richards, a Ryan Gloyer Middle School Lions Team math teacher, began her grassroots effort of turning her garage into a food bank after a former student picked up her bill at a fast-food restaurant.

When a Seneca Valley graduate bought Tracy Richards' meal at a fast-food restaurant, it sparked an idea to pay it forward.

The Ryan Gloyer Middle School Lions Team math teacher immediately went to Aldi to purchase a box of food for another family. Thus began her grassroots effort of turning her garage into a food bank.

Richards reached out to various teachers, coaches, parents and community members to help with her cause. The group has brought in thousands of dollars' worth of food donations and made 33 deliveries to Seneca Valley families.

“We wanted to start this in a manageable way to kind of see what happened,” Richards said. “We then opened it up to the high school program and started asking for more families to give food. We've given to everyone we've heard about so far, but we know there are a lot more families in need.”

Volunteers are making deliveries, coordinating food organization and collecting donations from their families and friends.

Those involved include parents Bobbi Congdon and Lisa Vescio and Lions Team teachers Lisa Kasper, Karissa Lambert, Dean Leventopoulos, Tammie Limmer, Meagan Loewy, Mike Manipole, Susan Moury, Tara Schenck and Richards.

Those interested in helping or who know someone who needs help should contact Richards at richardstg@svsd.net.