Make Plans NOW to join with Pueblo Community College, the PCC Associated Student Government and the PCC Foundation for a very special celebration on Thursday!

PUEBLO - One year ago this month, the Associated Student Government at Pueblo Community College wondered what kind of response it was going to receive from students as it opened a new food pantry for them on campus. After one year of operation, the numbers are in and all concerns about whether the pantry would be used have been put to bed.

Since it opened on Feb. 4, 2014, the Panther Student Pantry has served 1,092 students at least one time for a total of 3,671 visits. It has distributed more than 3,000 pounds of food per month, with 25,107 pounds having been purchased through a partnership with the Care and Share food bank.

Located in a large storage closet in PCC's Learning Center, the pantry is open 1-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays weekly when the college is in session. One time per week, PCC students with a valid student ID card are able to pick out six free non-perishable food items, a personal hygiene product and, when available, perishable produce items in larger amounts. The average student leaves the pantry with more than seven pounds of food per visit.

Student Government has spent more than $5,000 to purchase food, and additional support has been provided through food/personal hygiene drives conducted by PCC departments, classes, clubs and employee groups. Also, the pantry has received roughly $2,500 in cash donations from individuals as well as organizations such as the PCC Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, KR Swerdfeger Construction, LeGree's Market, Safeway Stores of Colorado and many others within the community who are committed to this program to help the students at PCC.

In addition, several companies have conducted food drives at their sites, including Express Employment Professionals, HUB International, the Credit Union of Colorado and Sunflower Bank. The corporate partner this month is The Pueblo Chieftain, and a food drive in March will be conducted by the Pueblo Athletic Club. Safeway has contributed a gift card.

The pantry was first opened partially to help students avoid experiencing food insecurity after a survey of PCC students determined a real need for such a free service. Another factor was a Thanksgiving food basket drive that ASG conducted in November 2013 when it gave out 300 turkeys and pies, 200 of which were in full Thanksgiving baskets that were given out in three hours on the first day of distribution, with the remaining food items gone in four hours on the second day.

The pantry is operated by ASG, thus representing a true "students helping students" project. The partnership with the Care and Share ensures that ASG follows current standards for food pantry services, including ServSafe training.

PCC initially stocked the Pantry through donations from students, faculty and staff along with an ASG purchase from Care and Share. Three sites on campus have been designated as regular drop-off locations for product donations, and there are two drop boxes for monetary donations.

Care and Share is the sole food bank in a 31-county, 52,000-square-mile region of Southern Colorado feeding families since 1974. Its mission is "to bridge the gap between hunger and abundance," and it serves as the hub for food distribution to more than 340 partner agencies.

Care and Share also is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest nonprofit organization committed to hunger relief. In 2013, Care and Share distributed more than 18.6 million pounds of food. More information on the Care and Share program is available at www.careandshare.org.

On Feb. 19, a special anniversary program and awards ceremony will take from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on site in the PCC Learning Center near the pantry's entranceway. The Learning Center is in the lower level of the Davis Academic Building, located at the corner of Orman Avenue and Arthur Street.