Aiken Technical College is establishing a new student-centered food pantry thanks to a recent grant from the Community Foundation of the CSRA.
The Aiken Technical College Foundation has received $13,500 to repurpose and transform unused cafeteria space into a new food pantry.
Partnering with the Golden Harvest Food Bank, which will assist in stocking various food items, the college will use the grant to add appropriate appliances and storage.
“The ATC Foundation is grateful for the Community Foundation’s support as it shows a commitment to meeting students’ basic needs, so that they can be successful in the classroom and successfully enter the regional workforce,” said ATC Foundation Director Beth LaClair.
With ever increasing usage, since 2019, of the college’s on-campus Blessing Box, a “take what you need, leave what you can” mini pantry, Aiken Tech is projecting the bigger pantry to be open in August 2024.
The addition of the pantry will extend access to nutritious, essential food items, said Aiken Tech Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and Students Affairs Melinda Rodgers.
According to the National Center of Safe Supportive Learning Environments, an estimated one in three students experience food insecurity nationwide.
“The Aiken Tech food pantry will serve as a crucial resource to ensure that no students goes hungry while pursuing their education,” said Rodgers.
In addition to food insecurity, the ATC Foundation has worked to address other critical student needs through scholarships, completion grants for students needing financial assistance to finish credentials, and student emergency grants for those facing a financial need that is preventing them from completing their studies.
“It is another way that ATC can help students, especially those who are low-income, complete their program of study and thus rise out of situational and/or generational poverty, which is central to our mission of educational and workforce development,” said Rodgers.
With the addition of this food pantry in 2024, it will mean that Augusta University, Augusta Tech and Aiken Tech will all have on-campus food pantries for students
Those interested in supporting the new food pantry can contact the ATC Foundation at atcfoundation@atc.edu or 803-508-7413 for more information.
