City College’s “Scare Away Hunger” will kick off Monday Oct. 1 and run till the very last day of October. The Emergency Food Pantry will have four donation locations; Student Affairs (D-106), CalWorks (L 121), City College Library and Bookstore where students and faculty can donate non-perishable food items.
Sandra Hostette, a Federal Work Study recipient, told City Times possible food items acceptable for donation are peanut butter-small size screw top, tuna, Spam, ravioli, canned soups, canned or plastic pull top fruits, canned or plastic bottled beverages, pudding, Jell-o and other non-perishables.
Hostette displayed a packed lunch produced by the donations received that is given to students on campus. Held inside a zip-locked bag were fruit, apple sauce, granola bar, ravioli and a juice box. Twice a month students are allowed to come into the CalWorks office and pick up one of these lunches.
“Many students come to school with nothing in their stomachs. I don’t want to see anyone go to class hungry,” she said.
The food pantry strives to make sure students get food. In many cases, it is the only meal the student may get that day. Hostette said the food pantry, “is students helping students.”
“Thirty-three bundles were made each holding twelve lunches and $900 was collected in donations all going to the proceeds of the food pantry,” Hostette said in reference to last year’s food drive.
Even though the drive went well the food pantry only has six bundles left which is less than was expected to have by this time in the semester.
For “Scare Away Hunger,” Hostette is hoping to raise enough food so she will not have to turn away students and be able to give away lunches as needed.
“Many students are homeless. So I want to collect enough so it isn’t just two lunches a month,” Hostette said.
She also helps students find outside resources away from City College such as the Presbyterian Church, and others.
However, the upcoming food drive is a great way to give back.
“No donation is too small,” she said.
As with last year’s food drive, along with collecting donations, raffle tickets will be on sale for a dollar. The money donated to the food pantry will help go to the individual who wins the raffle and they will get a ten or twelve piece Thanksgiving dinner.
For many students, the food pantry is the only place a decent meal can be acquired and with donations from City students and faculty a hungry student can go to class with a full stomach ready to learn.
For more information on the upcoming food drive, contact Sandra Hostetter located in the CalWorks office room L121.
