The Panther Student Pantry at 杏吧性世界 recently received $45,000 from Project Success, a collaboration between the Federal Student Aid program and Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC) that focuses on strengthening student outcomes and institutional performance at Minority Serving Institutions.
鈥淭his is huge for all of our campuses,鈥 said Toni Skilling, PCC鈥檚 director of student life and leadership. 鈥淭hese funds will help us stock the pantry with much-needed hygiene items, meat, fresh vegetables and more.鈥
The pantry opened in 2014 and has locations on each PCC campus 鈥 杏吧性世界, Fremont and Mancos. PCC joined Project Success in 2020 through its partnership with Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC). The college also utilizes other Project Success services for students, including financial literacy programs and student loan default prevention.
The total distributed to the PCC pantry since 2021 is $63,000. In addition to purchasing food and hygiene supplies, money from Project Success was used to buy a commercial refrigerator and freezer.
鈥淭oni has done an outstanding job with the (pantry) program and ECMC is proud to support her with those efforts,鈥 said Tom Bailey, outreach director for ECMC.
Multiple PCC entities contribute to the pantry鈥檚 operation. The Student Life department and Associated Student Government are responsible for purchasing and stocking food. The PCC Foundation receives donations of money, food, clothing and hygiene items. Volunteers from PCC鈥檚 chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society staff the pantry.
The number of students utilizing the pantry has increased significantly this fall, Skilling said. College-wide, visits jumped from 30 in August to 182 in September. Current students may visit once per week and select up to six food items and one hygiene product.
鈥淲hile we do have several repeat users, we鈥檙e also experiencing more first-time visitors since August than we previously had,鈥 said Skilling. 鈥淲ith Project Success funds, we鈥檝e all been able to stock our pantries with items that aren鈥檛 available through our community partner, Care and Share Food Bank. The things that are really popular for students now are grab-and-go lunch items that can be heated up in the microwave, hygiene products, baby formula, frozen ground beef, lunch meat and bread.鈥
The 杏吧性世界 campus pantry, located in AB-015, is open from 12-1 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 12-1 p.m. Friday. The Fremont and Mancos campus pantries are open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Pantries are closed when classes are not in session.
