A Beaufort County high school has garnered national attention in the past couple of weeks — and it’s all due to its efforts to help students reach their full potential.

This school year, Washington High School began two projects with the help of Bright Futures Beaufort County and First South Bank: a food pantry, stocked with canned goods and nonperishable items, and a hygiene pantry, stocked with toiletries, feminine products and toothbrushes/toothpaste.

Principal Misty Walker said the idea simply started out as a way for the school to help their own, but the nation has begun to take notice. Washington High School’s story has garnered attention from The Huffington Post and People magazine.

The idea for the pantries came after the school staff and students saw other students were coming to class without having their basic needs met, without having even eaten or brushed their teeth, according to teachers. The poverty level of students at Washington High is about 60 percent, according to a press release.

The high school receives donations of food, hygiene products and even school supplies from local organizations and churches to stock the pantries, and students in need are sent to the guidance counselors to choose from the hidden pantries anonymously.

“We have to encourage them and let them know it’s OK. They are never greedy, and we know they are probably sharing what they take with younger siblings at home,” Walker stated in the press release.

Robin McKeithan, assistant director of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and coordinator for Bright Futures, said the media attention has led to more support and donations for the pantries.

“We’re used to asking our small town for help, but we’re now hearing from folks all over the world that want to help, and we definitely need it,” she said in the release. “It’s heartbreaking to think so many children go hungry in our own community.”

“I think many good things will come from this,” Walker said. “I’ve been contacted from places as far away as London, UK.”

But she said the school by no means expected the attention nor set up the pantries to gain attention.

“We did this because we were just trying to do this for our kids,” Walker said. “We know if we want them to be successful in the classroom, we have to help them meet their basic needs.”

More importantly, schools have called from all across the country to see how they could set up a similar system in their communities, she said. Bright Futures Beaufort County is also planning to set up pantries in other schools in the county.

“This concept is spreading to other schools with similar needs and they’re excited about trying to get it off the ground and get it started in their community,” Walker said.