food pantry – CT State, Three Rivers

The Full Plate Food Pantry distributes 30 Thanksgiving Dinners

The Full Plate Food Pantry at Three Rivers Community College is busy! Since gaining a new permanent location in 2017, the use of the pantry has greatly increased and preparations for Thanksgiving are well underway. The pantry will supply 30 Thanksgiving dinners to food-insecure students of the Three Rivers community this year.

From its first year, the Full Plate has held Thanksgiving food drives. Beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2018, the Full Plate has provided over 30 complete Thanksgiving dinners to anyone in the Three Rivers community who was in need. Long-time Chair of the Food Pantry Task Force, Professor Janet Hagen says, “We are so thankful that we have such a supportive community of faculty and staff that make the Thanksgiving drive possible. The students who receive Thanksgiving Dinners are so grateful.”

In addition to the Thanksgiving dinners, The Full Plate is open during the fall and spring semester, providing food to those who need it. Monetary and food donations by faculty, staff, and student organizations keep the pantry’s shelves stocked. The food pantry is a valued and necessary, as recent statistics show that two-thirds of community college students suffer from food insecurity.

Hagen oversees The Full Plate along with the Food Pantry Task Force, which is made up of three faculty members and two staff members. For more information on the food pantry, please contact Janet Hagen at 860-215-9433.

In the News | Food pantry helps feed college students

Norwich, CT (WTNH, January 25, 2018) — Students at Three Rivers Community College have more than the cafeteria to satisfy their hunger pains.

In fact, for those who might not even have enough to eat at home, they may no longer have to choose between paying for gas to get to school or buying groceries.

In 2012, the college founded The Full Plate Food Pantry, which has been a resource for food-insecure members of the school.

“I had to quit my higher paying job to come back to school so I needed the help. It was nice to know I had it,” said Ben Crowley.

He and Raven Dillon used the pantry when they first started at Three Rivers a few years ago. It wasn’t the easiest transition at first.

“I didn’t know if I had like a solid meal at home,” said Dillon. “I was able to come here and just get something to eat which was really nice.”

Now through their positions in student government they are giving back. This year they increased the donation to the food pantry.

“You can’t get a good education if you can’t focus if you’re hungry,” said Dillon.

“Current research shows that 2/3 of community college students at some point going through college are food insecure,” said English Professor Janet Hagen.

She started the pantry in a conference room closet back in 2012. Last month it moved into a permanent space in Room D111 where it has more visibility and can have set hours.

“It has increased students coming into the pantry,” said Hagen. They’ve also been able to add toiletries, more baby food, and a snack table. About 50 students a month come there twice a week to get food for their families. Stocked by students and staff the pantry also provided 30 Thanksgiving dinners last fall.

“It’s definitely something I appreciate about this school is that they really research a lot of different avenues of taking care of and helping us get to class and stay in class,” said Crowley.

While there is a limit of two times per week for the food pantry students can come anytime they’re on campus and grab a snack there which can include a macaroni and cheese dinner for their kids. The pantry is open during the fall and spring semesters.

— By Tina Detelj, WTNH Channel 8

The original story can be found here: ‘Food pantry helps feed college students.’

The Full Plate Food Pantry gets a new home at Three Rivers Community College

Food Pantry Opening Three Rivers Community College is excited to announce that The Full Plate Food Pantry has a new permanent location. Since its founding in 2012, The Full Plate has been a resource for food-insecure members of the Three Rivers community. The new location, which officially opened on December 7, will improve accessibility, visibility, and offer room for growth to help those in need.

From its first year, the food pantry has held Thanksgiving food drives. Beginning in 2012 and continuing through 2017, the Full Plate has provided over 30 complete Thanksgiving dinners to anyone in the Three Rivers community who was in need. In addition to the Thanksgiving dinners, The Full Plate is open during the fall and spring semester, providing food to those who need it. Monetary and food donations by faculty, staff, students and student organizations keep the pantry’s shelves stocked.

During the past four years, The Full Plate Food Pantry has operated out of a very small shared conference room. The new location, D111-A, is dedicated solely to the Pantry’s use and is expected to help the food pantry grow. The new location should expand awareness for both individuals who could use it as well as for those who would like to volunteer and donate.

President Mary Ellen Jukoski says, “The food pantry at TRCC is very important to the welfare of our students. Many of our students come to the college hungry and need the assistance of the food pantry to help them and their families. My hope is that this new space will provide a comfortable place to help more students.”

Long-time Chair of the Food Pantry Task Force, Professor Janet Hagen explains why the pantry was so necessary. “We are able to provide food options for students and their families. Recent statistics show that two-thirds of community college students suffer from food insecurity and about 15% are homeless.

Our motto is ‘no student should go hungry,’ especially not in class. If a student is hungry or doesn’t know where their next meal will come from or how they will feed their family, we can, at least temporarily, help. By doing so, students will be able to focus more on their academics, which, in turn, leads to higher success rates. We also put out snacks and water in our pantry so a student who is on the run can pop in and grab a nutritional snack, like crackers and peanut butter, before class.”