Cougar Country Food Pantry

What was once unused storage space on the third floor of the Student Services (“S”) Building is now a part of the fight to end food insecurity at Medgar Evers College. Last Thursday, the College officially opened the Cougar Country Food Pantry. It will serve as a place where students who are in-need will have access to food. Dr. Alexis McLean, Interim Dean of the Division of Student Affairs, said reaching out to the “whole student” is part of their mission and helping with hunger is a part of that.

“Almost every day we see students who are experiencing food insecurity.” McLean added, “They come to us with this feeling that they have to choose between paying the rent or keeping their heat on and buying food.”

Waleek Boone, who spearheads initiatives for the Transition Academy, said this effort to bring a food pantry on campus has been in the works for nearly a year. Boone said he has worked to develop community partnerships to support the pantry. MEC is now a Food Bank for New York City network member, which allows the College to purchase food for the pantry in bulk at wholesale. The College also partners with the Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger. That organization will donate food and offer social services.