(DALLAS) — Nearly half of the Dallas College student population was food insecure even prior to the pandemic. Food pantries located on each of Dallas College’s seven campuses help to meet this basic need. Now, with gas prices soaring above $5 per gallon and recent Labor Department statistics showing the Dallas-Fort Worth inflation rate at a four-decade high of 8.6%, families are struggling, and there’s a strong need to ramp up resources to meet their needs.
Thanks to a generous Capacity Building grant of $23,000 from the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) plus over $7,000 in funding from Dallas College Foundation, Dallas College’s Student Care Network has amplified its ability to serve the needs of food-insecure students and community members by fall.
“Through partnerships with leading local organizations like NTFB, we are able to provide our students with critical support that helps keep them on track and working toward a better future,” said Josh Skolnick, executive director, Dallas College Foundation.
Dr. Carlos Cruz, Dallas College dean of the Student Care Network and basic needs, anticipates students will begin to feel the impact of higher prices at grocery stores this summer. “As students get here in the fall, I believe we’ll have a greater need for these services,” he said.
Under the grant, refrigerators were installed this week at Dallas College Richland, Brookhaven and North Lake campuses, allowing for storage and distribution of perishable food. Three of Dallas College’s other campuses — Cedar Valley, Eastfield and El Centro — already have cold storage facilities.
In addition, the grant allowed Dallas College to purchase and install a barcode and inventory system to track the impact of the food pantries as well as implement strategies to accurately meet community and student needs.
“Being able to provide fresh foods to our students is very important,” said Dr. Cruz. “Having cold storage gives us the opportunity to provide heartier foods for their tables, including meats, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, which builds on the idea of nurturing the whole student and ensuring their well-being, so they can succeed.”
Food pantries are open and available to students five days a week. The upgraded facilities also allow Dallas College to be a better community partner through a new program of Community Pantry Days. On a set schedule, posted on the Dallas College food pantry webpage, community members will be able to visit campus pantries to select food.
Food is ordered and delivered to the pantries through a partnership with NTFB. In addition, faculty and staff enthusiastically support the facilities through volunteering and donations. During a recent Pack the Pantry spring drive, Dallas College employees donated 17,000 items to the pantries.
“We are proud to partner with Dallas College and support its great work to provide nourishment to its students and community members, especially during this challenging time of rising food and fuel prices,” said Trisha Cunningham, president and CEO, North Texas Food Bank. “Together with Dallas College, we are dedicated to creating lasting change in the fight against hunger in North Texas, and a critical component is ensuring our students can prepare for their futures without worrying about having enough to eat.”
Community members can also help. They can volunteer or donate money or food (including through Amazon wish lists) by following the links at the bottom of the food pantry webpage.
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