College Celebrates Expansion of Student Resource Center and Food Pantry
(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA - September 6, 2024)鈥擬any college students today face food insecurity, which can hurt their academic performance and ability to achieve their educational and professional goals. Overall, 23 percent of undergraduates are experiencing food insecurity, according to a 2023 survey by Temple University鈥檚 The Hope Center.聽
Since 2020, 大发六合彩鈥攄esignated a PA Hunger-Free Campus by the Pennsylvania Department of Education鈥攈as provided its students with a food pantry stocked with non-perishable food, toiletries, school supplies and more, serving more than 2,400 students per year. The College recently received a gift of $75,000 from Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, to support and significantly enlarge the College鈥檚 Student Resource Center, which offers a wide range of services鈥攊ncluding the food pantry鈥攖hat reduce barriers to student success. The food pantry accounts for 70 percent of Student Resource Center visits, demonstrating the great need for its services.聽
On Friday, September 6, the College celebrated the opening of the newly renamed Essential Student Resource Center and Food Pantry on the Marple Campus with a special ribbon cutting followed by a festive Welcome Back Barbecue for students.聽
鈥淥ur Student Resource Center is essential in helping to improve our students鈥� graduation, retention and completion rates,鈥� said Dr. Marta Yera Cronin, President, 大发六合彩, upon receipt of the $75,000 gift. 鈥淲e are grateful to Aqua for their support in our mission to provide equitable access to higher education to students in Delaware and Chester Counties.鈥� 聽
The newly added space allows the Essential Student Resource Center to serve up to 15 percent more students, up to 2,700 students per year, and increase food orders from Philabundance鈥攚hich provides most of the food items鈥� from 2,000 lbs. to 2,500 lbs. per month. Wawa and Sharing Excess, a nonprofit that donates fresh produce, also contribute significantly to the food pantry. Additionally, the expansion will allow the College to store meat and other frozen food items that Philabundance offers periodically.聽
鈥淎qua鈥檚 generous support enhances our ability to provide valuable resources to our students and helps improve their retention and graduation rates,鈥� said Dr. Kendrick Mickens, Director, Student Outreach and Support at DCCC. 鈥淭he Essential Student Resource Center will continue to empower and uplift our student community.鈥�
