Monday, February 3, 2020
Minutes
The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate met on Monday, February 3, 2020, 3:15 - 4:15 P.M, Student Union, Main Floor
Committee Members in Attendance:
Present:
Dr. Dorith Brodbar
Dr. Christopher Roblodowski
Dr. Jun Shin
Dr. Emily Tai (Chairperson and Recording Secretary)
Dr. Amy Traver
Liaisons in Attendance:
Vice-President Brian Kerr, Administrative Liaison
Ms. Ronni Weprin, Administrative Liaison
Ms. Amawati Gomesh, Director, Single Stop
Dr. Jonathan Cornick, Senate Steering Committee Designee
Business:
The meeting was called to order at 3:15 PM
Professor Tai indicated that Elliot Ledley was not able to join the meeting, but would try to join the next meeting of the Committee. The Committee also discussed ideas for future service-learning partnerships, given that the Committee’s usual service-learning partner, Dr. Lana Zinger, would not be available this semester, as she was using the Common Read selection for this year, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. One idea that Professor Tai reported was of interest to Food Pantry users was an online cookbook (perhaps at the Food Pantry website), that could compile recipes from students who used the pantry to cook at home. Another, suggested by Dr. Brodbar, was another service-learning partnership with the Business department around Non-profit development.
The Committee then discussed possible strategies for address the forthcoming restrictions on the use of plastic shopping bags in New York, which go into effect on March 1, 2020. Members of the Committee discussed various options, and were particularly interested in the possibility of using light canvas bags, decorated with the Queensborough Logo, to raise money for the pantry and promote it as a campus resource.
Action Item: Professor Tai indicated she would write to Vice-President Di Dio, copying Vice-President Kerr, about this possibility. This has been done as of the evening of Monday, February 3, 2020.
Vice-President Kerr, then gave his administrative report. Ordering has been extremely robust, thanks to Ms. Weprin’s efforts, and Ms. Weprin, with the help of Ben Zeinitz from Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, reorganized the Pantry to promote better organization and more rational food choices. Everyone on the Committee agreed that the new arrangement *greatly* improves the pantry. Members of the Committee were asked to keep track of inventory, and let Ms. Weprin know when supplies are dwindling.
There was also some discussion of signage that could encourage students to assemble selections across the four food groups, and to stay within the 10 item limit. Members of the Committee weighed the various merits and drawbacks of reintroducing the practice of scanning Student ID cards. One possible advantage of reintroducing this practice is that it might identify students eligible for SNAP or $10 dollar and $400 dollar voucher distributions from the 1 Million dollars allocated to address Community College Food Insecurity by the New York City Council. One unexpected situation that had arisen around the distribution of these monies was that some students who were eligible—as parents; freshmen; or students with 45 credits, and unmet financial aid need---were not always interested in eating at the School Cafeteria for unspecified reasons (relative cost? Food Choices and possible dietary restrictions due to religious or health-related diets?).
Members of the Committee also discussed the relative merits of making “quick snacks”—granola/protein bars; or microwaveable meals—available, either at the pantry, or the Single Stop Office. Supporting this might be assisted by donations of microwaveable plates, bowls, and utensils, as these cannot be purchased with grant money.
The meeting was adjourned at 4.15, but was immediately followed by several members of the Committee staying at the Food Pantry to complete the unpacking of a recent shipment of food. This was completed by 4.30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily S. Tai
Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate, Secretary
