The mobile food pantry made it return to campus since COVID-19 forced students off campus.
The first event back on campus was in March, which had 101 attendees, Basic Needs Coordinator Dunia Valladares said. The mobile food pantry made its second appearance on April 4.
Student Life Supervisor Rosario Garcia helps oversee the mobile food pantry. Garcia said she started working at Citrus in 2017, which is when the dean of students Maryann Tolano-Leveque began working with Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to bring the Mobile food pantry on campus.
Garcia said she finds the mobile food pantry memorable and rewarding.
“I think every single time that I’ve been out there working during the mobile food pantry it’s always a great experience,” Garcia said. “… The times that it has stood out the most is just people you know thanking you.”
Garcia said students have told her they do not want to take food from the mobile food pantry because they are not in need. Students do not have to be in a poor position to take food from the pantry, Garcia said.
“The resources are here for our students, please take them,” Garcia said, “ … Maybe by taking that box of free food, you don’t have to spend money on groceries.”
Due to the food being donated, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank can not promise they will have the same items each time, Garcia said. However, they always try to substitute what they do not have with similar items, Garcia said. They always try to provide fruit, fresh produce, vegetables and canned goods, Garcia said.
Garcia said she enjoyed seeing students interact at the mobile pantry by giving each other suggestions on what is good . A favorite of the mobile pantry is the pizza crust, which students will ask for, Garcia said.
Valladares said the mobile food pantry is set up differently from the past as they have to follow COVID-19 regulations. The pantry switched from a farmers’ market style to packaged food, Valladares said.
Valladres said one of the rules for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is that the resources be available to everyone. However, the pantry in the Campus Center is only available to students, Valladares said.
During the pandemic, the demand for food increased, which decreased the availability of the truck, along with the campus being closed, Valladares said.
Valladares said one mobile food pantry came on campus with the help of Los Angeles County during December 2020. Valladares said it was a drive-thru service with over 800 people attending.
The next mobile food pantry will be on campus May 2.
