Food donation events at HVCC in November

TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -Hudson Valley Community College is putting together several food donation events during the month of November. The first being a Day of Hunger Action food drive on November 7 until 4 p.m.

The college has a goal of collecting a combination of 5,000 food and hygiene products on Friday. It will all go to HVCC’s Viking Cupboard Food Pantry. “We’ve asked for all sorts of shelf-stable items,” said Tara Zimmerman, the interim director of the Career & Transfer Center and campus coordinator for HVCC’s Empire State Service Corps Program. Those are really the easiest things to collect: peanut butter, canned items, pasta, things like that and then we’re also asking for personal hygiene items.”

“College students… You’re working, you’re at school, you don’t really have time to work full-time if you’re at school so like having the food pantry is really great,” added Loryn Boucher, an Empire State Service Corps member and student.

About 60 students are served by the pantry each week and that hasn’t changed after SNAP benefits froze. But the pantry makes sure its students have food for the whole family. “When we look at student development and really supporting student in a holistic way, we want to be able to meet all of their needs that we can. Y’know, we don’t want students to have to worry about where they’re going to to get their next meal,” explained Ian LaChance, interim vice president of student affairs.

Beyond the college’s pantry, Thanksgiving meal kits will also be given to students at no cost. Registration is open until November 14 at 5 p.m. and can be accessed here. HVCC is also partnering with the Regional Food Bank for a Thanksgiving distribution drive-thru event on November 22. It is open to the community and no registration is required. To donate or volunteer, click here.