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Date: 10/17/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College has become the first Massachusetts college to join the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts as a member agency.
STCC became a part of the region’s food assistance network in October.
Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Agency Relations Manager Michelle Geoffroy said, “We were aware of the pantry at STCC and when membership for colleges and universities became a possibility, we connected to explore that possibility with them.”
In addition to STCC, the food bank is working on partnerships with several other colleges and universities across Western Massachusetts and anticipates about two or three new campus pantry members before the end of the year.
“This partnership is really exciting for us,” Geoffroy said. “We’ve known for years that there are campus pantries across our service area but didn’t have a way for them to join us as members. It took a long time to solve that problem and it’s so gratifying to see it becoming a reality.”
Geoffroy continued, “We’re thrilled to have STCC join our member agency network and excited to support their pantry.”
STCC was also the first college in the state to join the Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program, which provides donations to support the college’s food pantry, the Ram Mini Mart. Qualifying students can visit the on-campus Center for Access Services to pick up free meals, groceries and other necessities.
According to STCC, Stop & Shop offers a school-based food pantry program to help reduce hunger for students in communities served by more than 400 of the company’s stores in the northeast.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts administers healthy food to 173 members of the network in Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. These independent pantries offer food and resources to individuals, families, seniors, children, college students, people with disabilities and veterans.
In September, the food bank expanded its operations with a move from Hatfield to a state-of-the-art facility in Chicopee, nearly double in size.
STCC Vice President of Student Affairs Darcey Kemp said the Center for Access Services is an “invaluable resource” for students as it provides them with support and supplies for school, food and household goods.
“STCC values its partnerships with community organizations like the food bank and companies like Stop & Shop,” Kemp said. “We sincerely appreciate their support.”
Center for Access Services Director at STCC José Lopez-Figueroa said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and continue our partnership with Stop & Shop. They are helping in our effort to ensure that no student is sitting in class hungry or goes home with nothing to eat.”
Dean of Enrollment, Retention and Completion Samantha Plourd said STCC is “grateful” to have the food bank as a new resource.
“Becoming a member agency of the food bank is a great help to our students facing food insecurity,” shared Plourd. “As a member, STCC can access thousands of pounds of healthy food for our pantry, almost entirely for free.”
Geoffroy said, “We know that more than one in three college and university students faces food insecurity, and only 20% utilize [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits. This partnership will allow us to support STCC’s established food pantry and help us both to reach more of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity in Springfield and surrounding communities.”
Jennifer Barr, director of community relations at Stop & Shop, said, “Stop & Shop is so proud to continue its support for STCC’s on-campus pantry, and we congratulate the school on its continued success in doing groundbreaking work to ensure its students have access to the food and resources they need to succeed in the classroom. As a longtime partner of the Food Bank for Western Massachusetts as well, we love seeing these groups come together to help put an end to student hunger.”