Trautwein Elementary and Oakville High have taken kindness to a new level and teamed up to help local families who are struggling to put food on their tables.

They recognized that fellow students are going home hungry, with school lunch sometimes being the only filling meal they have each day.

Their answer — a food locker. With the first one installed at the front entrance of Trautwein Elementary School, 5011 Ambs Road, students can freely donate and take food as needed, feeding themselves and their families.

People with extra food can also donate it.

Students from the OHS Future Career and Community Leaders of America club, or FCCLA, decided to tackle the issue of hunger. They enlisted fellow students who have construction skills and drew up plans for a storage container.

Last week, members of the Mehlville School District’s facilities staff helped the students install the food locker in front of Trautwein Elementary.

The program is based on an honor system. The container has a Plexiglas door to protect the food from rain, but the door will remain unlocked so people can either donate food or take food 24 hours a day.

The Kiwanis Club of South County was proud to make a donation to help get them started, nearly filling the locker.

Editor’s note: This article was updated with the correct Oakville High club.