Chabot College Addresses Food Insecurity With Student Pantry

From Chabot College: Chabot College is meeting the needs of financially strapped students by holding "pop up food pantries" to address the food insecurity within the college's community.

Formal meetings for the program began over a year ago, but this past March the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District approved an agreement for the school to partner with the Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) to distribute food to students in need.

By setting up the partnership with ACCFB, Chabot became part of the organization's "Just in Time" program. Chabot receives a scheduled monthly food drop off and distributes approximately 2,500 pounds of produce and 500 pounds of dry goods to serve nearly 200 households. Within an hour and a half of the pantry's opening, all items are distributed, but the need continues to grow. Chabot is currently in the process of developing a campus pantry to maintain an adequate food supply with the goal of ensuring no student goes hungry.

Although initially funded by Chabot's Student Life office and Student Senate, Chabot is currently searching for a sustainable funding source to continue and expand the program. Per Chabot's agreement with ACCFB, the school receives produce from the food bank free of charge, but must purchase dry goods - canned food, rice and pasta, among other items. All allocated and raised funds go to meeting the demand of needy students.

Similar programs have been implemented at De Anza College, California State University East Bay and Ohlone College. Additionally, schools within the Peralta Community College District have agreements with ACCFB.

Chabot's next "pop up pantry" will be Thursday, December 14th.

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