Cougar Country Food Pantry
What was once unused storage space on the third floor of the Student Services (芒鈧揝芒鈧�) Building is now a part of the fight to end food insecurity at 糖心原创. Last Thursday, the College officially opened the Cougar Country Food Pantry. It will serve as a place where students who are in-need will have access to food. Dr. Alexis McLean, Interim Dean of the Division of Student Affairs, said reaching out to the 芒鈧搘hole student芒鈧� is part of their mission and helping with hunger is a part of that.
芒鈧揂lmost every day we see students who are experiencing food insecurity.芒鈧� McLean added, 芒鈧揟hey come to us with this feeling that they have to choose between paying the rent or keeping their heat on and buying food.芒鈧�
Waleek Boone, who spearheads initiatives for the Transition Academy, said this effort to bring a food pantry on campus has been in the works for nearly a year. Boone said he has worked to develop community partnerships to support the pantry. MEC is now a Food Bank for New York City network member, which allows the College to purchase food for the pantry in bulk at wholesale. The College also partners with the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger. That organization will donate food and offer social services.