MCC Celebrates $52,835 Donation from Hannaford Supermarkets to Support Owl Market Food Pantries

Middlesex Community College is proud to announce that the college received a $52,835 donation from Hannaford Supermarkets. The grant will help provide resources for the college's Owl Market food pantries on both campuses.

"MCC is thrilled to partner with Hannaford in our work to support our students' wellness and essential needs," said Jonathan Crockett, MCC's Coordinator of Essential Needs and Community Resources. "This investment will undoubtedly have a meaningful impact on the people and communities we serve in both Bedford and Lowell. This goal aligns perfectly with a specific initiative at the Owl Markets, and the Hannaford funding makes this possible"

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"For students pursuing a college degree, access to nutritious food shouldn't stand in the way of their success," said Sara Olson, Community Impact Manager at Hannaford Supermarkets. "We're proud to support colleges and community organizations in developing innovative practices to provide fresh food when and where students need it. By investing in the infrastructure behind these programs, Hannaford is helping to expand food access and ensure students and communities thrive."

Thanks to Hannaford's support, MCC will be able to expand access to fresh, nutritious food; infrastructure needs; and pantry stocking efforts in the community.

Through Hannaford's Fuel Kids at School initiative, the funding allows Middlesex to purchase food storage lockers on the Lowell Campus. Students will be able to access to refrigerated and non-refrigerated food, personal care items, Chromebooks, and gift cards during the hours the Owl Market is closed on the evenings and weekend.

"For some students, getting to the Owl Markets during regular business hours is challenging or even impossible, and a $100 grocery store gift card can be a lifeline," Crockett said. "Food storage lockers allow us to place requested items into the lockers during regular business hours, where they remain available for students to pick the items up at their convenience. With both refrigerated and non-refrigerated lockers, we can provide a larger variety of items for students to pick-up after hours."

Middlesex hopes the installation of the storage lockers will be complete by the end of the Fall 2026 semester. Students will be able to start using them by the Spring 2027 semester.

Through MCC's Wellness Resource Center (WRC), students can access free food across MCC's Bedford and Lowell campuses. The fully stocked Owl Market food pantries have fresh, frozen and shelf-stable foods, including weekly fresh produce delivered by partner organizations.MCC also offers Grab 'n Go Healthy Food stations with snacks and microwavable meals. Through a partnership with World Food Movement, Middlesex provides free hot lunches Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters.

In addition to offering one-on-one counseling and wellness coaching, MCC students can also schedule Essential Needs appointments for assistance navigating resources and addressing barriers. The WRC team is available to provide information related to housing, transportation, technology and childcare.

"We are immensely grateful for the generosity of the Hannaford Supermarkets team for this funding, as it allows us to increase the breadth and depth of our resources for students," Crockett said. "Partnerships like this make it possible to expand our offerings to students."

Learn more about MCC's Wellness Resource Center or contact Crockett at CrockettJ@middlesex.edu.