Christmas came early for some students at Bladen Community College with gifts of Smithfield Hams donated to the college’s food bank, The Eagle’s Nest, by local Smithfield Foods Complex Plant Manager, Donovan Owens. College food bank volunteers have been collecting food from the community to make holiday dinners for qualifying students in need.
“The donation of the hams from Smithfield Foods was such a wonderful example of community contribution and support of our college’s effort in meeting student needs” said Sondra Guyton, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Community Relations.
Across the United States, a growing number of community colleges and universities are establishing free food banks or pantries to help students who regularly experience food insecurity make ends meet.
Free food pantries are becoming nearly as common as the campus bookstore at a growing number of colleges. More than 570 campus food pantries nationwide are registered with the College and University Food Bank Alliance, which formed in 2012 and helps colleges set up food pantries and other hunger programs.
A report recently published by the University of Wisconsin found 36 percent of 43,000 students attending two- and four-year colleges who were surveyed in 20 states had trouble getting enough to eat, threatening the academic success that’s key to overcoming poverty. Among community college students alone, 42 percent struggled to pay for balanced meals.
“Like other colleges across the state and nation, student food insecurity is a concern on our campus,” said Dr. Amanda Lee, President of Bladen Community College. “Food pantries cost little to colleges because they’re typically run by volunteer students and faculty and are supported by donations. We are very proud of how the Eagle’s Nest is making a difference for a significant number of our students and we are so appreciative of community support.”
The faculty and staff-run Bladen Community College Eagle’s Nest Student Food Bank, named for the school’s mascot, aims to help students with the necessities essential for success. For more information and assistance or how you can donate to the food bank, contact a BCC faculty or staff member at 910-879-5500.
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