Donations Kick-Off “Scare Away Hunger” Campaign

Oceanside CA— The MiraCosta College Food Pantry has received very generous donations courtesy of the MiraCosta Horticulture Club and the MiraCosta Associate Academic Faculty.
“They are some of our greatest supporters,” said Bea Palmer, coordinator of the Service Learning and Volunteer Center. “They are very faithful in donating every year.”
These donations come just as the Service Learning Center kicks off its “Scare Away Hunger” campaign. This food drive will focus on replenishing the food pantry’s supplies for the upcoming holiday season as well as spreading awareness of the program. Donation boxes for “Scare Away Hunger” are available around the three MiraCosta College campuses until November 1.
In 2005, MiraCosta College was inspired to establish the food pantry after a student saw another student digging through a trash can looking for food. A year later, the Service Learning Department Food Pantry opened and fed 25 students its first semester.
“We don’t turn anyone away,” said Palmer. “We need to make sure students’ basic needs are met in order for them to be successful in the classroom.”
The donation-based program, now in its 10th year, is available on all three MiraCosta College campuses and helps feed almost 200 students per semester, including military veterans. Service Learning predicts that they will have handed out 1,000 sack lunches by the end of 2016.
Over the last couple of years, Service Learning and its student advocates have improved food pantry promotions throughout the college by distributing brochures to clubs, programs and doing in-class presentations. Many of these groups have heeded the call.
“Every semester they generously donate food items,” said Palmer. “I think they jump-start our season of giving!”
To learn more about the food pantry and the Scare Away Hunger campaign, please contact Service Learning at 760.795.6616 or email Bea Palmer at bpalmer@miracosta.edu. Canned-food donations are welcome anytime. For monetary donations, please address checks to the MiraCosta College Foundation: Food Pantry, and mail to MiraCosta College Foundation, 1 Barnard Drive, Oceanside, CA 92056.