Augusta Technical College recently announced the official opening of a campus Paws Pantry, a food pantry project aimed at addressing student food disparities.
After receiving a $25,000 Liaison IMPACT Grant in July 2022, Augusta Tech secured funds that provided essential funding for the Paws Pantry initiative.
According to a press release from the college, the goal of the pantry project is to provide students in need with a conditional space where each can request and receive food and personal items.
“We’ve had a hygiene pantry for almost a year, and we’ve gotten a lot of use out of that, so we thought a food pantry would also be something they would use,” said ATC”s Vice President of Student Affairs Nichole Spencer. “It’s been in the works for a while because we saw a need.”
While some students may not suffer from food insecurity, Spencer said others do and might have to miss class in order to work and secure money for food, or otherwise attend class hungry.
“If they’re able to get food from us, I think it could help them academically – at least we hope it will,” she said.
From a campus-wide survey, Spencer said several students expressed interest in volunteering with the pantry to continue its progress.
“When we sent out the survey about a month ago to students, we were very surprised to have many say they wouldn’t use the pantry, but they wanted to volunteer and be a part of it,” she said. “I think it was about 60 to 70 students and it was really heartwarming.”
With a soft launch, ribbon-cutting event during the fall 2023 semester, Kaylei Martin, a Paws Pantry representative for the college, said she felt immense gratitude for the overwhelming community support to initiate the project.
“Most of the food in the pantry right now has been donated by faculty, staff and students,” said Spencer. “It’s our hope that we won’t have to limit students’ visits to the pantry.”
At the opening, through a confidential booth, students will have the opportunity to apply for food pantry items, as guests explored the newly established pantry space and accessed additional information and resources.
By collaborating with Golden Harvest Food Bank as a partner agency, the college has ensured sustainable success and longevity for the Paws Pantry.
“Any food we purchase will come directly from Golden Harvest,” said Spencer.
The Golden Harvest Food Bank maintains four locations in the CSRA:
- 3310 Commerce Drive in Augusta, Georgia, open on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- 702 Fenwick St. in Augusta, Georgia, open daily from 11 a.m. to noon
- 3708 Benchmark Drive in Augusta, Georgia
- 81 Capitol Drive in Aiken, S.C., open on Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 4 p.m.
To donate resources to the new pantry, donate to the Golden Harvest Food Bank’s and request materials be sent to the Paws Pantry at Augusta Technical College.
Visit or donate the Golden Harvest Food Bank at https://goldenharvest.org/
