The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate met on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 1 - 2 P.M.

Committee Members in Attendance:

Present: Ashlie Klepper, Emily Tai, Nicole McClam, Sara Danzi Engoron, Jonathan Cornick, Bianca Sosnovski, Angela Gmuca, Lorraine Cupelli, Liz DiGiorgio

 

 

 

 

Liaisons in Attendance:

Ms. Ronni Weprin, Administrative Liaison (on the phone)

 

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM

CFI Minutes

The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate met on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 1:00 – 2:00 PM, (in person) in H-116.

 

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM.

Old Business

• The September minutes were approved.
• The Pantry had 1,117 visitors in the fall. Our highest yet, but that number is inaccurate because it does not include those who showed up for the Thanksgiving food drive, which gave food to over 200 students. Or the approximately 90 students who picked up prepacked bags at the library during the Pantry’s off hours.
  • Thursdays from 12:00-3:00 pm are the busiest time. We want to find coverage to fill the gaps in the schedule (Thursday 1:00-2:00 pm is the blank hour). We will follow up with additional volunteers. We also wonder how busy the library is during the Pantry’s off hours?

New Business

• Sara updated the pantry organization and guidelines for volunteers creating a living document that can be modified. Also updated the log adding a section for time.
• Ashlie researched other college’s food pantries and noticed they had Amazon wish lists. We discussed creating our own Amazon wish list for potential donors.

 

• We’d like to use the Call money for what the Petrie fund won’t cover (such as toiletries), but need to check with Legal first
• Tai bought can openers and bowls for Pantry visitors
• Title IX and PTK are packing go bags for women in domestic shelters – personal and toiletry items. About 50 bags. Will the Food Pantry co-sponsor?
• Also, from Ashlie’s research of other college’s food pantries, would we want to create a Free Library? Do we see ourselves as just a food pantry or do we add a free library/what other types of donations or partnerships with other organizations/services could we create? We may want to talk to Connie about that.
• A website update is overdue. Some ideas to include: items for our Amazon list, recipes, nutrition information, a PDF cookbook (with a QR code in the Pantry window)
  • We could invite students who use the Pantry to post recipes (like a contest?) to show what can be made with the Pantry items (like Trader Joe’s/product demos). Would we want to connect with the Student Union?
• Spring Drive in connection with Dr. Tail/PTK to provide snacks (coffee, tea, cakes, and dried fruit) to entertain for the upcoming holiday (March Madness or “Spring Ahead”)?
• Finals Drive – no info yet, but similar to last year’s. Snacks and brain food. Date TBD and info sheet for snacks possibly a week before finals or near reading day. Also, collab with PTK.

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Angela Gmuca
Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate, Secretary