BRTC food pantry volunteers Christina Derbes and Erin Faulkner stock the BRTC Food Pantry earlier this year
Black River Technical College’s Food Pantry will be hosting a food drive from October 16 to October 27 due to an increase in the number of students in need this semester.
“We have given out twice as much food this semester as the previous semester,” said organizer Christina Derbes.
Many BRTC students and their families struggle to access adequate food. To help students mitigate this need, BRTC accepts donations of food, Walmart and grocery store gift cards, and money to stock the BRTC food pantry.
The BRTC food pantry is excited to help students in need. A student must complete an application and produce a current BRTC student I.D.
Food bags consist of breakfast, lunch, and dinner for three days for a family of four. Breakfasts include a box of cereal or pancake mix with syrup or oatmeal. Lunches include soup, ramen noodles, or mac and cheese. Dinners include beans and cornbread, spaghetti noodles with meat sauce and 2 cans of vegetables, and tuna or chicken helper with tuna or chicken, and two cans of vegetables. Snacks of peanut butter and jelly with crackers or pop tarts, and cereal bars are also included.
The food pantry also distributes baby formula, diapers, and personal hygiene items as available. Other items are available occasionally depending on what has been donated. Also, at Thanksgiving “we provide select students with a turkey and sides for a Thanksgiving dinner,” said Derbes.
The pantry is a collaboration between the Student Government Association and the Nutrition and Dietetics Club.
For more information or to donate, contact Christina Derbes by phone at (870) 248-4000, ext. 4168 or by email at christina.derbes@blackrivertech.edu.
Donations submitted through the BRTC Foundation are tax-deductible. Donations can also be given online at https://brtc.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/brtc/donation.jsp.