MCC’s Lowell Food Pantry Awarded Funding Due to Pandemic

Serving a diverse population – especially during these challenging times due to the pandemic ­– Middlesex Community College strives to support students’ health and well-being in addition to their academic success. As part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the city of Lowell has awarded the college $20,000 in direct response to the food insecurity MCC students are suffering because of COVID-19.

Middlesex understands the importance of having students’ basic needs met in order for them to be successful. In 2016, the college opened food pantries – run by Jonathan Crockett, MCC’s Coordinator of Essential Needs & Community Resources – to support the MCC community on both the Bedford and Lowell campuses. The CDBG funding expands options in the Lowell food pantry, including a large chest freezer with over 3,000 free and pre-packaged meals for students to access throughout the year.

“The pandemic has been devastating for many MCC students struggling with food, housing and financial insecurity,” Crockett said. “Generous funding from the city of Lowell’s CDBG will provide much-needed food and personal-care resources for our most vulnerable MCC students. For some MCC students, these resources may mean the difference between having food for themselves and their family, or going hungry.”

From June 2020 to May 2021, the CDBG funding will serve 200 students. The frozen meals are a healthy option with lower sodium and higher nutritional value for students to heat up in the microwave. Having the ability to store frozen meals allows Middlesex to be responsive to increasing student need, while following health and safety measures as students can access the freezer with minimal contact with others.

The CDBG funding also supports the purchase of items from grocery stores to keep MCC’s Lowell food pantry stocked with items that students need most, according to Crockett. The pantries offer supplemental food items, such as canned soups; vegetables and fruit; rice and pasta; milk, cheese, eggs and some frozen and fresh foods like ground turkey and produce.

Part of the CDBG funding will also go towards stocking up on personal care items, such as body soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, feminine hygiene products and diapers. Providing items that are expensive but essential to personal and family health helps relieve stress students may be feeling.

MCC’s food pantries are accessible by individual request from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week for MCC students and employees. To access the pantries or obtain a $25 Market Basket gift card, call Public Safety in Bedford at 781-589-0234 or in Lowell at 781-589-1384. For more information, email foodpantry@middlesex.mass.edu.

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