With the holidays approaching and food insecurity on the rise, OCCC recently stepped up its efforts to support both students and the wider community. This year, OCCC not only hosted its annual campus food drive, but its human resources department also partnered with United Way for an emergency-response food collection.
OCCC set up a drop-off site on campus for the United Way emergency food drive, which was launched in response to a government shutdown that resulted in a temporary loss of SNAP benefits for many families.
“This is the first year we’ve participated in the United Way food drive,” said Julie Green, benefits manager in the HR department at OCCC. “When we saw the great need this area has for food, we decided to extend our financial giving for our campaign and offered to be a drop-off location.”
Last year, the HR department raised more than $3,000 for its United Way campaign. The idea to help with the emergency food drive began when an HR employee saw coverage about the shortage on the news.
“They had started it at the end of October,” Green said. “We contacted United Way and asked, ‘How can we help more?’ Then they asked us if we could be a drop-off location.”
The HR department did not set a specific collection goal, noting that the drive was part of a larger citywide effort. The United Way emergency food drive was separate from OCCC’s own Food Pantry, which provides food specifically for students, while the United Way drive serves the broader community. Together, both resources aimed to ensure that no student would go hungry this holiday season.
“Our decision to extend the financial campaign was great,” Green said. “Becoming that drop-off location really allowed us to support an emergency effort.
“As OCCC Trailblazers, giving back to the community we serve is part of who we are. When we watch faculty and students drop off food, we see their generosity. That is the spirit of OCCC.”
Green emphasized that food drives meet an essential need.
“We don’t want anyone on this campus to go hungry,” she said. “It’s a direct impact, and in higher education, we have a passion for helping people. When we come together, the impact is significant.”
Meanwhile, OCCC’s annual student-focused food drive took place during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Assistant Director of Recreation and Fitness Laura Swain oversaw that effort, which is required each year under the college’s Hunger-Free Campus grant.
“This is our third year,” Swain said. “And one of the requirements is to have a food drive during Hunger and Homelessness Week, which is typically the week before Thanksgiving.”
The OCCC Food Pantry also receives monthly orders from the Regional Food Bank, occasionally receiving as much as 10,000 pounds of food.
Swain said working with the Food Pantry has been one of the most meaningful parts of her role.
“It feels very rewarding to work for the Food Pantry,” she said. “We all have different struggles, but it’s nice that we can help someone who needs food. If you’ve ever tried to concentrate in class while hungry, you can’t focus because all you’re thinking about is your next meal.
“I feel blessed that I’ve been part of the OCCC Food Pantry since 2018,” she added. “I’ve watched it grow, and it’s amazing!”
