Cal Works helps students stock their pantries for the holidays

Latrice Dickers was the lucky winner of the Cal Works Food Pantry raffle in Gorton Quad on Nov. 15. Out of the 223 tickets sold, Dickers had sold 153 of those tickets and kept only one for herself.  

Dickers spoke before the crowd after receiving an $80 gift card. With tears in her eyes, she explained how the money was going to help her as a single mom about to send her only child to college.

The Cal Works Food Pantry has been working since October to raise food donations and provide anyone who is in need with a free meal. Bags of assorted canned and dried foods are available in room L-121 for any student with a college ID card.

Throughout the month of October, the pantry has been able to collect 40 pounds of food, including two turkeys just in time for Thanksgiving, all in the form of donations from faculty, staff, the athletics department and other generous members.

Sandy Hostetter who oversees the operation passionately explained her position in the Cal Works program. “I’m not going to turn anybody down who is hungry. We are students feeding students with help from campus support.”  

The Cal Works Food Pantry is open to visitors looking for aid or wanting to donate in room L-121. They can also be reached at (619) 388-3796.