South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) is proud to announce the expansion of its Food Pantry at the C.B. Coreil Campus in Ville Platte. The ribbon cutting ceremony was held July 21, 2023, at 11 a.m. to commemorate this significant milestone.
The SLCC Food Pantry, known as "The Pantry," aims to address food insecurity among students and provide assistance to those in need. The expansion at the C.B. Coreil campus rounds out the recent expansions of the pantries at Young Memorial, Franklin, Evangeline, New Iberia, and Acadian campuses. The Pantry now spans all SLCC campuses.
In a survey conducted at SLCC in 2021, 52% of participating students noted there was a time when they did not have enough food for themselves while attending SLCC. Of their food supply, 69% of students noted it was inadequate at least 1-2 times each semester, sometimes more. Students overwhelmingly saw the value of having a pantry on campus, with 87% of respondents confirming they would use one if it were on their campus.
"SLCC views students through a holistic lens and is committed to eliminating barriers that hinder student success," says Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement and External Relations. "When students are burdened by hunger or worried about feeding their families, their ability to focus and excel in college is significantly impacted. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our partners for recognizing the value of this initiative and providing the private funding necessary to expand our operations."
The expansion of The Pantry was made possible by privately funded donors, ATMOS Energy and Do It Greener Foundation, and grants from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation, Home Bank, Wal-Mart, and Super 1 Foods. Since the first three opened in 2022, nearly 4000 visits have been recorded.
To make a monetary donation to The Pantry, please visit the SLCC Foundation web page at www.solacc.edu/donate. People wishing to purchase items can check out The Pantry Amazon Wish List or consider a donation of the following:
- Microwavable meals (ramen noodles, ravioli, etc.)
- Cans or pouches of meat
- Soups
- Water, Gatorade (or other nutritional drinks)
- Other non-perishable items (canned fruits or vegetables, boxed items, etc.)
The Pantry also accepts new and unopened hygiene or toiletry items:
- Dish soap
- Paper towels
- Toilet paper
- Bar soap
- Body wash
- Feminine products
For more information, or to schedule a drop-off, please contact us at slccfoundation@solacc.edu or 337-521-9026.
