Hundreds of Rockland Community College students and their families can enjoy a sumptuous turkey dinner for the holidays thanks to the generosity of the College’s teaching staff. Three-hundred holiday meal boxes were prepared to be distributed December 17-21 to registered students who expressed interest in receiving the meals. The funding was donated by the RCC Federation of Teachers, the food supplied and prepared by DeCicco’s Family Markets of New City, NY, and distributed by RCC Student Involvement.
More than 30 percent of U.S. college students experience food insecurity, according to published reports. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of dependable access to enough food to sustain a healthy life.
“I was shocked to find out that a lot of students don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” said Bill Baker, RCC professor of Biology and president of the College’s teachers federation. “Food insecurity is an epidemic on college campuses. The faculty wanted to give back to students to make sure they are well fed so they can succeed and do well in their courses.”
This is the third year the College’s faculty has donated holiday meal boxes to students; the first two years coincided with Thanksgiving. In cooperation with Student Involvement, the teachers federation has also provided funding for food vouchers to purchase hot meals for students, and through the Bursar’s office has given eligible students public-bus pass discounts to help with transportation costs to and from the college.
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