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Faculty, staff and students of Tunxis Community College filled Thanksgiving gift bags with items they collected from a food drive to help make the holiday a little brighter for those students who use the college food pantry.
Pantry volunteers met on Nov. 16 to fill gift bags with the donated stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry, canned vegetables and grocery store gift cards for turkeys and other holiday food items before distributing them to students ahead of the holiday.
“We are grateful for all of these generous donations,” said Tunxis professor Amy Feest, a coordinator of thePantry@Tunxis. “A total of 25 students will receive holiday food bags, with enough food to feed their families—101 people in all.”
Tunxis pantry volunteers fill gift bags with boxes of stuffing, canned goods and other key Thanksgiving dinner ingredients. Shown L to R: Jenny Cardoso, student Michael Farnan, and Sabina Ostynska.
ThePantry@Tunxis opened in fall 2016 to provide short-term food assistance to those Tunxis students who may be experiencing financial difficulties. The Tunxis food pantry is a joint volunteer effort of employees and students throughout the college. It is run by volunteers from all parts of the college community including the TCC Human Service and Service Learning Club students.
Research shows rates of food insecurity for college students continues to exceed the national average, with one in five students experiencing some form of food insecurity (not being able to afford nourishing meals). The pantry seeks to alleviate the barriers and challenges associated with food insecurity and hunger so that students can remain in school and earn their degrees.
The pantry is consistently in need of food and grocery store gift cards. A list of requested donation items is posted on the pantry website at tunxis.edu/pantry, and can be donated to the pantry during open hours. Donation boxes are also located in the 100 Building main entrance and in the 700 Building lobby. Donations may be in the form of nonperishable food, personal care items or gift cards to local grocery stores. Cash donations are also accepted through the Cashier’s Office (860.773.1315). Please contact [email protected] or call 860.773.1631 with any questions about donations.
Tunxis is located at the junction of Routes 6 and 177 in Farmington. For a map of campus, visit tunxis.edu/map.
Tunxis Community College offers over 60 associate degrees and certificates, providing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that prepare students for transfer to bachelor’s degree programs and employment in areas with industry need.