Several campus food pantries offer resources to Citrus students
Students suffering from food insecurity have a new resource in the heart of campus. A food pantry opened over the summer is in the Campus Center.
Dean of Students Maryann Tolano-Leveque and Student Life supervisor Rosario Garcia helped secure donations and space for the pantry in the Campus Center.
Tolano-Leveque and her team surveyed students. Her team found many Citrus students needed support in 2016.
“I pulled a group of people together and we decided we were going to figure out what we need to do to help our students.” Tolano-Leveque said.
To access the food, ask a Campus Center host to unlock the door and scan a student ID card. Students may visit the new food pantry up to once a week, so budgeting for the week may be required.
Food in the pantry currently includes yogurt, oatmeal, cup of noodles, instant meals, frozen meals, and canned goods.
Supplies may vary by donation. All the food is donated and regularly restocked. Students can stop by the pantry anytime the Campus Center is open.
Mobile food pantries visit the campus bi-weekly and serve students in need of larger quantities of food. Students may receive up to 30 pounds of food. The trucks can serve up to 250 people.
The next mobile food pantry will open from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sept. 10 in the Campus Center Mall.
Rachel Goodrich is a student worker who has been working at the Campus Center for 3 years.
“It’s really important to have this on campus, especially since we’re a community college,” Goodrich said. “Most people’s income isn’t that high.”
Student food insecurity is difficult to measure because many students do not want to admit they are struggling.
“You don’t have to be embarrassed about coming, take advantage of it,” Goodrich said.
Student Life Supervisor Rosario Garcia said she was the happy her department could help.
“We are here for our students,” Garcia said “We want to help every single student in any way that they need help.”
The Campus Center provides other free resources to students including hygiene kits, laundry detergent, and toilet paper rolls for students who may need it. Resource guides to the college are also distributed.
Garcia and Tolano-Leveque said their goal in providing necessities is to support learning.
“Our main goal is to help our students achieve their academic goals,” Garcia said.
