Responding to food insecurity experienced by students, Monroe County Community College opened a food pantry on campus just in time to host a major food giveaway for Thanksgiving.
Monroe County Community College (MCCC) officially opened a new food pantry on November 19, 2021, located near the student dining hall on campus. Created through a partnership between MCCC, the Monroe County Community College Foundation, and the Monroe County Opportunity Program (MCOP), the MCCC Food Pantry organized a giveaway of Thanksgiving meal packages to at least 48 students who pre-registered. Organizers say the creation of the permanent food bank was in part inspired by a survey showing that almost one-third of MCCC students face food insecurity, according to a news release from the college.
The idea to create a permanent food pantry on MCCC's campus was suggested by Jonas Lowe, who at the time was an MCOP intern. Lowe is now the food programs coordinator at MCOP and explained to MCOP Executive Director Stephanie Kasprzak that there was a need among students for assistance with food security. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kasprzak began communicating with the college about the idea. Then, right before the nationwide shutdown, a mobile food pantry was coordinated to meet immediate needs. Since then, the idea to open a permanent food pantry was put into action.
At the grand opening, Dr. Joshua Myers, executive director of The Foundation at MCCC, connected the food pantry to student success. "No student should ever have to choose between continuing their studies and putting food on the table. Basic needs are now the core of what we are trying to meet through The Foundation at MCCC, because we know a student who is hungry, lacks transportation or is homeless is unlikely to succeed. We want these students to complete their studies at MCCC and drive up not only their economic trajectory, but also the economic trajectory of their entire family," Myers said.
Myers also cited a survey, saying, "Nearly a third of MCCC students have demonstrated signs of low food security according to a 2020 Trellis Company research survey on student financial wellness."
President Quartey said, "MCCC is proud to partner with MCOP to provide this important service to our students. We cannot meet our students' many and varied needs alone, and partnerships like this one are yet another example of the caring community of support that we have here in Monroe."
According to an article published by The Monroe News, local donations came in part from Gleaners of Detroit and a Meijer store.