The line had formed well before the 10 a.m. start time, but the wait was going to be worth it.
In an effort to connect Bristol Community College students, staff and faculty with fresh, healthy food supplies the school has formed a partnership with the Greater Boston Food Bank to bring the organization’s mobile market to campus on a monthly basis.
October’s visit, the second in the collaboration between BCC and the food bank, brought out 150 people. As they waited in line a cornucopia of food was stacked up and once the line opened those in need moved quickly to collect potatoes, onions, apples, hummus, carrots, yogurt and a choice of other pork or beef cutlets. A unique item identified as red curry squash provided a festive addition to the line and came with preparation instructions and recipes for those who may have been weary of the unknown.
Organized by Kathy Torpey Garganta, the associate vice president of enrollment services and technology at BCC, and Joyce MacDonald, a program manager for the food bank, the idea to target community colleges came following a successful pilot program at Bunker Hill Community College in Boston.
“That was so successful that we wanted to do more to get out into the community and that led us to BCC and helping the people in the Fall River area,” MacDonald said.
With people constantly passing through the line during the hour the market was set up, MacDonald said she was amazed at the turnout and growth since the initial visit in August before students had returned to campus on a full time basis. She said it shows how extensive the need is for the food bank’s services as they attempt to target more and more working people in need.
“This is amazing,” MacDonald said. “I think one of the things people learn about hunger is that people can still be working and still have a need.”
Participants are asked to pre-register before the market is scheduled to appear and food is then distributed based on the size of the participant’s household. Garganta said that beyond the assistance provided to those in need the market also results in faculty and staff volunteers working side-by-side with students to pass out the food items.
“This is a great group of volunteers and it’s nice to see the connections that are being made between professors and students,” Garganta said.
In addition to hopefully expanding the mobile market’s visit to a monthly schedule, MacDonald said they are hoping to add a nutritionist to future stops in an effort to provide participants with more information about healthy eating.
Email Will Richmond at wrichmond@heraldnews.com