Cougar Country Pantry Triples in Size in New Space
When the new Cougar Country Pantry was unveiled on the second floor of the Student Services Building in Room 212 at Medgar Evers College in Crown Heights on October 3, patrons were given considerably more options (and room to move). The previous storage room was located on the third floor and was akin to a large closet. In addition, outside partner Food Bank for New York City donated a new refrigerator with extra shelving. The new storeroom is not only more in the lines of a large classroom, but the extra space means more non-food items are available for those in need of its services. In addition, the layout is more in lines with what you’d find at a supermarket. It’s an important distinction for Dr. Waleek Boone, the MEC Student Life Manager whose Transition Academy is responsible for maintaining the Cougar Country Pantry.
“This food pantry looks like you’re walking into a store,” Dr. Boone explained. “It makes students feel more comfortable and welcome coming in. Because it’s larger, we’re able to display more of what we have to offer because its [increased size]. Now we have a section for toiletries where we’re giving out toilet paper, razors, shampoo, lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, tooth brushes. We’re not just a food pantry—we’re a pantry because when you think about a food pantry, you’re just giving out food. We are the Cougar Country Pantry because we give our more items now in our space.”
The added privacy and increase in goods available has seen the number of students using it undergo a considerable uptick from roughly 80 to 90 people to more along the lines of 150 on a weekly basis. But beyond the increased size, Dr. Boone feels the appeal of the new space can be traced to an all-hands-on-deck approach that reduces any stigma for those wishing to use its services. It ranges from the tone set by professors, who are give students time to go visit the pantry to the mood created by the staff that mans the storeroom.
“When students come in, they are taken care of my staff/interns, who always provide great customer service,” Dr. Boone said. “And we work closely with faculty and staff to make sure students can come over there and have enough time to go to the pantry. They’ll tell the students they can go at the beginning of the class or you can go during a break or they’ll be let out a little early so they can go over there to the pantry.”
Dr. Boone also added that ensuring access to all in terms of scheduling is paramount to the success of the Cougar Country pantry and making sure all students’ needs are met. “Our hours are pretty wide-ranging,” Dr Boone said. “On Mondays and Wednesdays, It’s 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Tuesdays, it’s 3 to 7 p.m. However, on Wednesdays, we serve all CUNY students that are enrolled so you can be at BMCC, you can be at LaGuardia—any CUNY student can come. On Saturdays, it’s open from 10 a.m. to noon for those weekend students that can’t get here during the week. We want to make sure we accommodate everybody—morning, afternoon, evening, and weekend students.”
