This content was published: September 28, 2017. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
Food pantries and co-ops renamed ‘Panther Pantries’
Photos and story by Janis Nichols
Panther Pantries are places where students and faculty give when able and receive when needed.
Rock Creek Campus students are asking faculty and staff to contribute to their newly branded “Panther Pantry,” formerly know at the Rock Creek Canteen. Panther Pantry is now located in Room 113, Building 5, in the newly established Rock Creek Co-Op. Students can access food, gently-used clothing, hygiene products, emergency bus passes, applications for child care subsidies, and emergency grants.
Mandy Ellertson, Rock Creek’s manager of Student Life and Leadership, said, “The vision for the co-op is for it to be a place where students and faculty give when able and receive when needed. We want to establish a ‘give and take’ environment. Rylie Wolff, a student leader, will coordinate the Panther Pantry and the co-op.”
She added, “The students hope people will give food that they might want to eat. We are well stocked with canned cranberries, green beans and corn right now. Protein items are always appreciated, such as peanut butter, tuna, etc. Hygiene products like toothbrushes, tooth paste, feminine products, shampoo, deodorant, etc., would also be welcomed. Rylie also hopes that we can stock up on culturally-appropriate food sources and spices.”
In the past, the food pantry and the child care subsidies were managed by the Rock Creek Women’s Resource Center.
“As we make this transition,” Ellertson said, “ASPCC and Student Leadership want to give our sincere thanks to Kristen Martin and Alicia Gonzalez of the WRC who faithfully ensured our students had a place to get food and assistance with their child care costs.”
Panther Pantries are on all four comprehensive campuses and provide food for students in need: Cascade (Second Floor, Student Union Building); Rock Creek (Room 113, Building 5); Southeast (Room 105, Mt. Tabor Hall); and Sylvania (Room 102, College Center).
Additional Resources
- For more details about the co-op, email Rylie.wolff@pcc.edu.
- Information about emergency loans and the Emergency Grant Fund.
- Child care subsidies for student parents.
