Campus Cupboard sees increase in student participation
PITTSFIELD, MA — Berkshire Community College (BCC), in recognition of the steady need for food security assistance among its students, faculty and staff, has developed new partnerships and has secured additional funding for its support services in this area.
BCC recently became a member of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts and is one of the first college campuses in the state to be members. As such, it enjoys additional benefits for its campus community. For example, BCC staff can now pick up food orders from the food bank to support students and their families. The food bank also assists the College in accessing resources such as the Commonwealth's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach initiative and other nutrition providers.
In addition, using funds provided by an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant, BCC installed a community refrigerator as a complement to its Campus Cupboard operations. The Campus Cupboard, available to any BCC community member who needs supplemental food assistance, provides non-perishable food items, snacks, toiletries, household products and more. The Campus Cupboard also partners with the Berkshire Community Diaper Project to provide diapers and wipes for students who may need help obtaining them for their children.
In response to a significant increase in participation in the Campus Cupboard, BCC upgraded shelving units to add more food options, installed a cabinet dedicated to toiletries and created meal kits for students to take home. An easy-to-use digital check-in process captures data that can help support visitors in additional ways.
Finally, BCC's Student Engagement department continues to provide students with financial assistance related to food security. Using a case management approach, the College assists students with temporary support before creating a long-term plan of action. This assistance includes providing access to other food assistance programs throughout Berkshire County, as well as transportation and housing resources. Events and workshops help students register for SNAP, get meal kits and engage in support conversations with the Essential Needs Advisory Group.
For more information, visit BCC's Essential Needs Navigation Station.