Wednesday, September 23, 2020

The Academic Senate Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate met on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 12:10 - 2 P.M, Zoom

Committee Members in Attendance:

Present:

Dr. Kathleen Alves 

Dr. Jonathan Cornick (Chairperson)

Professor Dorith Brodbar

Dr. Elizabeth DiGiorgio

Professor Ashlie Klepper (Secretary)

Dr. Nicole McClam

Dr. Christopher Roblodowski

Dr. Jun Shin

Dr. Amy Traver

 

 

Liaisons in Attendance:

Vice-President Brian Kerr, Administrative Liaison

Ms. Ronni Weprin, Administrative Liaison

Dr. Emily Tai, Senate Designee

Ms. Asia Khan, SGA President

Ms. Amawati Gonesh, Advocacy Resource Center

 

Business:

The meeting was called to order at 12:10 PM

Food Insecurity Meeting via Zoom

Wednesday September 23, 2020 12:10 PM - 2 PM

• • Minutes from last meeting (May 6th 2020) were approved by committee
  • Tai explains resolution for expanded committee member
  • Committee approved resolution to expand committee by one member for academic year 2020-2021
  • Vice President Kerr welcomes us back to the fall semester and makes the following announcements:
    • QCC was selected as a college by the Hope Center (funded by the Gates Foundation)- they will send out a survey to our students and then give us information from that survey on how to better serve our students with Vice President Kerr as the point person.
      • Dr Kerr will update us throughout the semester with Hope Center progress
      • In regards to students checking emails from Hope- Asia Khan tells us to use QCC instagram and text messages to help reach out to students- emails are not the most effective.
    • Staffing the pantry for Fall 2020
      • As of now, Vice President Kerr, Ronni and Public Safety are running the pantry and the food pick up.
      • We need volunteers to help with packing of bags & we need volunteers to help with giving out bags so public safety doesn't have the added responsibility
      • There was an excess amount of food in the summer but there has been high volume of student interest once this semester has started
      • Coming to campus requires approval from the president, the Everbridge App (or the form), completing the blackboard course and, temperature check with public safety.
      • Other CUNY campuses are requiring all students to make an appointment before coming to the pantry
      • One concern is students make appointments to come pick up food and then do not come- discussion on how to reach out to them and ensure they show up
      • Discussed potentially having photos of what students will expect to get as this may help them decide to visit the pantry
      • Perhaps we set one day a week where we staff and distribute- and see how that one day a week pans out. Important to be transparent about what students will receive and what specific time they will be required to come.
      • Discussion on volunteers- can we have student volunteers come and help? Vice President Kerr will get back to Dr. Tai on this
      • The committee members who cannot come to campus to work at the pantry will find ways to help remotely
      • Ashlie will send out a sign up sheet for volunteer availability.

   

   

  • Fridays Event- Queens Borough President's Office giving out boxes with pantry items
    • Vice President Kerr asks for volunteers from 12:30-3:30 on Friday September 25th fto help give out boxes
    • President Mangino is very impressed with the committee and may come by on Friday to support
    • In order to ensure students who are registered to pick up bags on Friday show up, Ronni will give out student information to Ashlie, Kathleen and Dee so we can call and remind them of their appointment
    • Vice President Kerr will send out the link for Fridays event so we can share it with pantry regulars
  • How best to serve our students
    • Asia Khan- an idea to give gift cards (from insta cart) to buy groceries- so they can choose what they want to buy.
      • Petri foundation has $ for potential key food gift cards that would be sent out on an ongoing basis to our most food insecure students
      • BMCC partnered with a restaurant and students could go to that restaurant to receive a free meal- Is this something QCC could do?
    • Can we donate $ to the food pantry directly? Ronni says when the QCC fund email gets sent out for donations- you can choose for your donation to go directly to the pantry
    • Food pantry needs bag donations and additional volunteers

Respectfully submitted,

Ashlie Klepper
Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate, Secretary