Stop & Shop presents $10K check to support HCC food pantry
'Very excited about the donation from Stop and Shop and what they've been able to offers us,' said President of Holyoke Community College, George Timmons.
These funds comes from the store chains School Food Pantry Program..which started in 2019. It will ensure that every student that goes to HCC's food pantry located inside the Thrive Center in 201 Kittredge Center has consistent access to fresh food. Students are free to choose the foods they wish according to their dietary needs.
'We really focus in on making sure that students have access to healthy foods, not just during the day, but after hours and on weekends when they go home,' said Communications Manager at Stop & Shop, Stephanie Cunha.
This, as food insecurity has become a growing issue on college campuses. In a recent survey from the Massachusetts Hunger Free Campus Coalition, 44 percent of college students face food insecurity at some point throughout the year.
'Food insecurity, housing insecurity, all the things that would prevent someone to a continuing education. We really make a conscious effort to try to overcome those barriers,' added Timmons.
This donation made at the game will not only help support students health but also their academic success. 'Nobody wants to focus on where their next meal is when you really should be focused on the classroom. So that's the goal and the and what we hope to do. Becuase studies show you know that students who have access to nutritious meals, perfrom better at school,' said Cunha.
And as part of Stop and SHop's ongoing commitment to fighting food insecurity, the store is donating a total of $55,000 this year to support school food pantries in Springfield and surrounding communities. This funding will help support school food pantries at other colleges, like AIC and STCC.
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