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New Food Pantry to work on Combating Food Insecurity at QCC

June 2018
  • PTK student Ashley Forhan is the new food pantry manager
    PTK student Ashley Forhan is the new food pantry manager
  • Dr. Luis Pedraja visits the food pantry as it begins to get stocked.
    Dr. Luis Pedraja visits the food pantry as it begins to get stocked.

Quinsigamond Community College will begin helping to nourish students’ bodies as well as their minds when it starts to roll out its new food pantry on July 10. The new food pantry is the first of its kind at QCC and was developed to proactively address the food insecurities found on the campus.

The QCC food pantry will be stocked with non-perishable items, in addition to a limited amount of fresh produce grown by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) students in the college’s PTK Live & Learn Greenhouse. QCC students, staff and faculty who are in need can visit the food pantry, located in room 351A on the college’s main campus (670 West Boylston Street, Worcester) on:

  • Monday               1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday              1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday        1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday            8:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

“Food insecurity is a problem not only on our campus, but also on a national level,” said QCC’s Dean of Students, Terry Vecchio.

An April 2018 national survey by Wisconsin HOPE Lab found that 42 percent of community college students were food insecure in the last 30 days. The Urban Institute released a report in 2017 that stated nearly one in five two-year college students lived in a food-insecure household. At QCC, a 2016 Hunger Survey found that 57 percent of QCC students cut or skipped meals due to budgetary concerns; 49 percent were hungry but didn’t eat, and 64 percent of students ran out of food in a 30-day period and could not purchase more.

“This is something we cannot ignore,” said QCC President Dr. Luis G. Pedraja. “We must all work together to fight against this growing issue.” 

The college’s food pantry is being run completely by donations that come by way of in-kind and monetary donations. A June food drive and some private donations have already helped to get the food pantry started and ongoing fundraisers are also being planned.

PTK Officer-at-Large student Ashley Forhan is overseeing the food pantry as its manager. Ms. Forhan is particularly pleased to be a part of this initaitive, adding that at one point she had similar troubles in her own life and had experienced food insecurities. 

“This is a perfect way to give back to my community. There is such a need for this. I’m really excited that we are able to offer this type of service at QCC,” she said. “We hope to reach as many people as possible in need, as well as provide visitors with nutritional information that can be used in their own grocery shopping.”

Those using the food pantry must be a current student (show a current QCC ID), staff or faculty member. All information will be kept confidential. 

Those who wish to come in confidentially can call Ms. Forhan at 508.854.4411 and schedule an appointment.

For additional questions, to make a donation or to volunteer at the food pantry, call 508.854.4411.

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