Medical Campus, in partnership with Single Stop, launched a food pantry in July to provide food for students and their families who might not have the resources.
“Today is more of [an] outreach,” said program coordinator Mikelle Gayle during the kick-off event for the pantry. “We want each student to know that Single Stop is here and we do exist and we do provide services to the students.”
Among the items that will be available at the food pantry: nonperishable canned foods such as soups, meats, fruits, vegetables and bags of rice. The pantry hopes to expand to include hygiene products.
“We assume everybody has enough, everyone is eating and they aren’t eating enough,” said Peggy Martin, who is manager of the Communities of Interest that oversees Single Stops at Medical Campus.
In order to receive services from the food pantry, located in Room 1171-03 in the Student Life Department, you have to be a student or a family member of a student. There is no set income amount in order to qualify but participants must present their student ID. Family members who wish to receive benefits from Single Stop must be accompanied by the student. Single Stop, which is also located in the Student Life Department, accepts appointments and walk-ins.
In addition to the food pantry, Single Stop offers other services such as screening for governmental benefits, financial coaching, legal referrals, tax preparation, help with FAFSA applications, mental health counseling and health insurance referrals.
For people looking to donate to the food pantry, they can drop off nonperishable goods in the Student Life Department. Single Stop holds a monthly distribution at the Medical Campus in the checkered patio in front of the Student Life Department where they give out two to three prepackaged supplies.
The service has not gone unnoticed.
“A lot of the nutrients I don’t get daily I would get here,” said Tamika Simeon, who is in her third semester at Medical Campus.
The food pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information call (305)-237-4478.
