NWTC Service-Learning and Civic Engagement 2017-2018 | Page 8

C O M M U N I T Y M AT T E R S
FOOD SECURITY
Free Food for Thought
NWTC Shared Harvest Food Cupboard
provides fuel for students.
For students attending college,
some might hunger for more than
knowledge. Up to half of college
students in recent published
studies say they either are not
getting enough to eat or are
worried about it.
Food insecurity is most prevalent
at community colleges, but
it’s also common at public and
private four-year schools as
well. To address this issue, in
2014 the NWTC Shared Harvest
Food Cupboard was created to
help those on a particularly tight
budget get through their semester
without running short.
Shared Harvest provides
nutritional support for students
in need. Students simply need
to present their student ID and
pick up a prepackaged bag
of nutritious food, or use the
shopping option to select the
items they want. The process is
completely free, students are
simply encouraged to consider
paying it forward once they’re
back on their feet. Pickup is also
7
available at all district campuses
and regional learning centers.
Throughout the 2017-2018
academic year alone, Shared
Harvest provided over 880 bags
of food to students in need,
serving 569 unique individuals.
In 2018, a new partnership
occurred. NWTC Landscape
Horticulture students piloted a
program where they grew fresh
organic produce to provide for
patrons of Shared Harvest. The
addition was well received and is
anticipated to continue in 2019.
“We began with this humble idea of
providing some food to students
who might need extra help.” Mary
Gagan, an employee within Student
Involvement who worked to create
Shared Harvest explained. “We had
no clue that so many students would
stop in asking for a bag of groceries
and were overwhelmed with the
appreciation they showed for our
efforts. So, we kept at it, growing and
changing to meet needs and yet be
able to sustain our existence.”
Most of the funding and donations
for the pantry comes directly
from NWTC staff and faculty. Food
drives and fundraisers keep the
shelves stocked, with additional
funding coming from the NWTC
Foundation when needed.
For Mary, working with Shared
Harvest has been a privilege and
a journey. “I will always remember
a quiet young woman who would
come in to Student Involvement
at the end of the night each week.
She finally told me how much she
appreciated the program and how
it made a such a difference for her
children. I was so touched by her
gratitude and thought how this
small bag of food meant so much
to her.”
Bag pick-up is in Student Support
Services and is open from 8 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday and
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Fridays.
If students are unable to make
those hours, they can visit the
pantry by appointment by
calling 920-498-6258 or emailing
[e-mail].