Annual Report of the Committee on Committee on Food Insecurity Annual Report for 2017-2018
To: Steering Committee, Academic Senate
From: Chair, Committee on Food Insecurity
Date: June 10 2018
Membership/officers
Dr. Peter Bales (Social Sciences)
Professor Liz DiGiorgio (Art and Photography)
Dr. Sharon Ellerton (Biology)
Professor John Gilleaudeau (Social Sciences)
Dr. Chukwundi Ikwueze (Social Sciences)
Dr. Susan Jacobowitz (English; Secretary)
Professor Sebastian Murolo (Business)
Dr. Emily S. Tai (History; Chair)
Dr. Lana Zinger (Health, Physical Education and Dance)
Liaisons
Administrative liaison: Vice-President Sherri Newcomb
Queensborough Student Association Representatives: President Mabely Salvador and Mr. Michael Fischbach
Membership Composition Changes
During the fall semester, the Queensborough Student Association was represented by President Mabely Salvador and Mr. Michael Fischbach, also a member of the SGA Board.
At the end of the fall semester, Mr. Fischbach graduated, and was replaced by Ms. Sarah Aguirre, also on the SGA Board. Dr. Ellerton resigned, as she was going on fellowship leave for the calendar year 2018; and Dr. Gilleaudeau resigned, due to health problems. They were replaced by Committee on Committee appointees Professors Ashlie Klepper (Speech and Theatre); Nataliya Khomyak (Mathematics and Computer Science).
Committee Meeting Dates
Narrative summary of committee work
COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
- Administration of Pantry Hours, 2017-2018 Semester:
The Following Hours were established for the Queensborough Pantry during the Academic Year, 2017-2018:
FALL:
Mondays, 5-6 P.M. (Professor Di Giorgio)
Tuesdays, 12.30-1.30 P.M. (Dr. Ellerton)
Wednesday, 5-6 P.M. (Professor Tai)
Thursday, 2-5 P.M. (Professor Gilleaudeau/Dr. Bales)
Friday, 1-2 P.M. (Dr. Ikwueze)
SPRING:
Mondays, 11-Noon (Professor Klepper)
Mondays, 5-6 P.M. (Professor Di Giorgio)
Wednesdays, 3-4 P.M. (Dr. Ikwueze)
Wednesdays, 4-5 P.M. (Professor Khomyak)
Thursdays, 9-10 A.M. (Professor Tai)
Thursdays, 4-5 P.M. (Dr. Bales)
The pantry was also available at additional times, as well as during summer, 2017 and winter recess, 2018, by appointment by contacting the committee chair, whose email was posted on the door of the Lucille A. Bova Food Pantry. The Chair would also like to thank the staff of Single Stop, who were kind enough to alert her when students came by seeking an appointment.
- Pantry Stocking:
The Committee also collaborated with the following administrative offices/ campus organizations to promote the following events to help stock the food pantry:
- Autumn Harvest Food Drive (Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and student organizations named below, September-November, 2017)
- Between September 28, 2017 and October 31, 2018, the ASAP Club has also launched a Food Drive to support the Food Pantry as an October “Tackling Hunger Month” Event.
- Wednesday, October 25, 2017 was declared “Food Pantry Day” and coordinated a generous gift from FEC Chair Dr. Philip Pecorino and other members of the Queensborough Faculty, as an event associated with the Fall meeting of the Faculty sponsored by the FEC
- The coordination of a “Thanks for Giving” Food Drive to benefit the Food Pantry with the Health-Related Sciences Academy; the STEM Academy; C-Step, and the Environmental Sustainability Club, and the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in November, 2017.
- A “Hunger Banquet”, coordinated by Queensborough’s NYPIRG Chapter, under the direction of Mr. Colin Hughes, collected *65* food items for the Food Pantry on November 22, 2017.
- The Queensborough Holiday Banquet, held on December 22, 2018, brought in approximately 50 bags of food for the Food Pantry
- In February, 2018, the Committee, acting in concert with the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and other student groups named below, launched a month-long Share the Love Food Drive
- Between March-May, 2018, the Committee, acting in concert with the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, and other student groups named below, launched a Spring Ahead Food Drive, which ended May 15, 2018.
- In March, 2018 (Women’s History Month) the Committee on Food Insecurity collaborated with Queensborough’s NYPIRG Chapter, which collected feminine hygiene products and products for infants (diapers, baby food, etc.) and donated them to the Food Pantry.
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- The Subcommittee on Food Insecurity participated in a fund-raising campaign for Love Through Food, an event sponsored with collaboration from Queensborough Alumnus Jonathan Chin, and ShareMeals at New York University in April, 2018. The campaign raised approximately $$452.00 from Queensborough Faculty, and resulted in the acquisition of *seven* boxes, containing 1500 servings of tomato/basil pasta which supplied the Food Pantry this spring, 2018. The boxes of pasta were transported in April, 2018 by Dr. Bales.
- Wednesday, April 18, 2018 was declared “Food Pantry Day” and coordinated a generous gift from FEC Chair Dr. Philip Pecorino and other members of the Queensborough Faculty, as an event associated with the Spring meeting of the Faculty sponsored by the FEC
- Wednesday, April 18, 2018 also was the date of a well-attended “Fruit and Study” event at the Newman Center, under the direction of Father Edward Doran and Ms. Virginia Villadiego, Newman Club President, during which fresh fruit and dried fruits, donated by the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and the Chemistry Club were distributed to students at the Newman Center.
- Service-Learning and Research Outcomes:
We are delighted to report that involvement in the Food Pantry has produced a concrete learning and employment outcomes for our students, as well as a research opportunity for faculty:
- First, students in Dr. Zinger’s Spring, 2018 Health of the Nation Class produced a 25-page cookbook for pantry users;
- Second, Ms. Shovaine Singh, Queensborough Community College graduate and Lambda Sigma Chapter member, is now a senior at Lehman College (graduated Spring, 2018), and is responsible for administering Lehman College’s Food Pantry. Her work in this regard was celebrated in a recent Fox News segment on college food insecurity and a television studio interview.
- An article on the Queensborough Food Pantry was featured in the April Queensborough Communiqué, based partially upon an interview with Dr. Jacobowitz; Professor Tai also spoke with a journalist student from Brooklyn College; and another from Nassau Community College. Professor Tai also authored a piece for the CUNY UFS Blog, Are Your Students Hungry?
- Finally, the Committee would like to congratulate Dr. Amy Traver (Sociology, Social Sciences) and Dr. Zivah Perel Katz (English), who delivered the following conference keynote address:
“(Re-)Considering Service-Learning as a Multi-faceted, Transformative Approach to Academic Learning for First- and Second-Year Students” at “Service-Learning Unbound: On Campus and Beyond,” a conference at Onondaga Community College on Friday, May 4, 2018, where they discussed their work with service-learning projects related to the Queensborough Food Pantry.
- Resolutions
The following resolution was also passed:
August 25, 2017: Based upon the past year’s experience with Food Pantry use and restocking patterns, a motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved voted to restrict Pantry visitors to 10 (ten) items per visit. Visits to the Pantry will not be restricted (in other words, students can return more than once a week); nor will there be any records kept of who accesses the pantry other than the record of numbers of students served.
- Non-Profit Incorporation:
In fall, 2017, the FEC created a “Faculty Association” bank account, wherein was held, among other funds, money from those faculty who preferred to donate by check to the Queensborough Food Pantry rather than furnishing in-kind donations. Monies received were used to reimburse Amazon/Cosco orders to the pantry, upon the presentation of receipts approved and recorded in meeting minutes by the Committee on Food Insecurity. During the academic year, 2017-2018, FEC Treasurer Margot Edlin both received checks from generous donors, and disbursed reimbursement funds to Dr. Susan Jacobowitz, and to herself, as the Food Pantry was stocked, in December and January, by two separate trips to Cosco.
By the close of the fall semester, FEC Chair Dr. Philip Pecorino nevertheless indicated that members of the FEC had concerns that FEC funds and members might be held liable for the operation of the Queensborough Food Pantry, and therefore preferred that the members of the Food Insecurity Committee could transition into a the establishment of the Food Pantry, either as a unit of Queensborough Community College, or as a separate, non-profit entity. While administrative support for the prior course remained uncertain through the close of 2018, the Committee voted unanimously to explore non-profit incorporation as an option in meetings of March 14 and April 25, 2019.
Before resigning as Chair to begin a fellowship leave in fall, 2018, Professor Tai, in her capacity as Chair, drafted bylaws for a proposed non-profit, which would be known as the Bayside Campus Hunger Alliance. Professors Tai, Rosen, and Murolo, together with outgoing SGA President Mabely Salvador, met with President Call and Vice-President Newcomb on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 to discuss the possibility of cooperation between the non-profit under development and Queensborough Community College. While a few queries about acceptable bylaws language have yet to be addressed by CUNY Central, Professor Tai met, in June, 2018, with an intern advisory group at the CUNY School of Law, which has assisted other CUNY faculty groups with non-profit incorporation in the past. This group indicated that, if the Committee still wished to pursue the non-profit option in September, 2018, they would advance some suggestions regarding bylaws modification. Professor Tai also established contact with the Director of the Nassau Community College Food Pantry, Dr. Sharon Masrour, to query recommendations for the best insurance company options.
Appendix: Links and Articles of Interest
New Research at Houston Community College Addresses Student Hunger
Governor Cuomo’s mandate regarding Food Insecurity at CUNY and SUNY
Ending Food Insecurity at CUNY: What will it take? Slide presentation by Nick Freudenberg, Distinguished Professor, CUNY School of Public Health
Call for student testimonials on hunger and food insecurity. Confidential testimonials help tell the story of hunger at CUNY and make the case for resources. Please share the announcement as you see fit.
#GiveHealthy Food Pantry Best practices and tips for food drives and healthy donations.
Feeding America is a national resource for food banks and food pantries including a mobile food pantry program.
The College and University Food Bank Alliance is dedicated to providing support, training and resources to campus-based food banks/pantries and other food insecurity initiatives that primarily serve students.
It’s Hard to Study if You’re Hungry. New York Times Op Ed by Sara Goldrick-Rab
Assigned Committee work as per Bylaws Charge/Strategic Plan/Middle States Items/ or Actions of the Academic Senate
The Committee on Food Insecurity was created by the Academic Senate in May, 2017, with the following charges, which, as of this writing, have not yet been added to the Bylaws of the Academic Senate:
The Committee on Food Insecurity shall:
- Maintain a Food Pantry during the Academic year, for a minimum of four hours weekly
- Establish any guidelines or parameters for the regulation of the Food Pantry as may be needed and appropriate;
- Promote partnerships with Queensborough Student Clubs, together with organizers of campus-wide events, to conduct Food Drives to supply the Food Pantry and raise awareness regarding food insecurity across campus;
- Promote partnerships with faculty and administration to explore service-learning and institutional advancement opportunities that support the Food Pantry as a means to contribute to the enhancement of student instruction, and address conditions of Food Insecurity within the Queensborough Community.
Committee Responses towards Steering Committee Charges
During its first year of operation, the Committee undertook a number of activities, at the Queensborough Food Pantry (which was, during its first year of operation, informally named after Lucille A. Bova, the late mother of the former Queensborough President, Dr. Diane Bova Call, who retired in summer, 2018) and campus-wide, to meet those charges. In keeping with the charges given to all committees of the Academic Senate by the 2017-2018 Steering Committee, we would also like to suggest that service-learning partnerships that allow students to learn about food safety by inspecting food products for expiration dates, and creating a popular “Pantry Cookbook” has contributed to the efforts of Queensborough’s faculty to realize Queensborough’s Mission Statement and Middle States Accreditation Standard 3:
an institution provides students with learning experiences that are characterized by rigor and coherence at all program, certificate, and degree levels, regardless of instructional modality. All learning experiences, regardless of modality, program pace/schedule, level, and setting are consistent with higher education expectations.
We also believe that operation of the food pantry, which served approximately 3-10 students per open hour, and, thus supported an estimated maximum of 50 student visits weekly; 200 student visits, monthly; and 800 student visits each semester, may have contributed positively to student persistence and retention, and thus supported Queensborough’s realization of Middle States Accreditation Standard 4:
“across all educational experiences, settings, levels, and instructional modalities, the institution
recruits and admits students whose interests, abilities, experiences, and goals are congruent with
its mission and educational offerings. The institution commits to student retention, persistence,
completion, and success through a coherent and effective support system sustained by qualified
professionals, which enhances the quality of the learning environment, contributes to the
educational experience, and fosters student success.”
While we have not, as of this writing, requested any formal data from students who visit the pantry, these numbers were utilized in an application prepared by the Office of Student Affairs for additional support by the Petrie Foundation—only one of the intra-institutional partnerships that endeavored to support the Food Pantry and the Committee on Food Insecurity in its inceptive year.
Recommendations for Next Academic Year
- Recommendations for the 2018-2019 Academic Year
- The outgoing chair has been advised by the incoming Student Governance Association Board that Mr. Daniel Blount will be the student representative to the Committee in 2018-2019.
- A replacement for Professor Tai should be requested from the Committee on Committees.
- All unapproved minutes (for the meetings of March 14, April 25, and May 9), should be approved and posted.
- One member of the Committee should be appointed a liaison to Student Clubs, as the co-sponsorship of student clubs is critical to the success of the campus-wide food drives named above.
- Members of the Committee should invite Father Edward Doran to a meeting to offer a presentation on possible collaboration between the Newman Center and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and Queens with the Committee on Food Insecurity and the prospective non-profit organizaton, the Bayside Hunger Alliance.
- Members of the Committee should work with the Student Association and the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa to promote the following events:
Autumn Harvest Food Drive (September—November, 201y and Aprili8)
Food Pantry Day (with FEC Fall meeting)
A holiday drive (possibly in connection with the Holiday luncheon, should the new administration continue to promote this event)
Share the Love Food Drive (February, 2019)
Spring Ahead Food Drive (March-May, 2019)
- Members of the Committee, perhaps in concert with Professor Christine Mooney (or as a service-learning project?) should double-check the name “Bayside Campus Hunger Alliance” as an aceeptable name with non-profits currently on file in New York State.
- Members of the Committee on Food Insecurity should promote partnership with faculty involved in working with the 2018-2019 Common Read text: Will Allen and Charles Wilson, The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People and Communities (New York, 2013). Such activities might include (but not be limited to), screening of the video that the college purchased in support of the Food Pantry and next year’s Common Read, entitled Food Insecurity: Access and Address Need on Your Campus and Support Students so that they can Succeed & Persist (June 12, 2017)
- Members of the Committee should, if at all possible, complete the non-profit incorporation process for the Bayside Campus Hunger Alliance, and explore possible grant opportunities, either independently, or in concert with the Queensborough grant office.
New Committee Members – newly elected Chair and Secretary
Dr. Peter Bales (Social Sciences; Chair)
Dr. Dorith Brodbar (Counseling)
Professor Liz DiGiorgio (Art and Photography: Secretary)
Professor Nataliya Khomyak (Mathematics and Computer Science)
Dr. Chukwudi Ikwueze (Social Sciences)
Dr. Susan Jacobowitz (English)
Dr. Jun Shin (Chemistry)
Dr. Amy Traver (Social Sciences)
Acknowledgments
The Chair of the Committee on Food Insecurity would like to extend special thanks to the faculty and student members of the Committee on Food Insecurity, as well as Drs Philip Pecorino, Ted Rosen, and Margot Edlin of the Faculty Executive Committee (2017-2018). The tireless commitment of every member of the Committee was measured in countless hours of staffing the pantry; soliciting donations; and working with the chair in various ways on the project to incorporate as a non-profit. Although, as matters developed in the following academic year, non-profit incorporation ultimately proved unneccesary, Professor Tai would like to extend a special thanks to Professor Elizabeth Di Giorgio, who shared her experience with non-profits to help draft prospective bylaws. Professor Tai would also like to acknowledge the late Professor John Gilleaudeau (1960-2019), who served on the Committee on Food Insecurity both during the years when it was an subcommittee of the Steering Committee of the Academic Senate (2015-2017), and after it became a stand-alone Committee in fall, 2017, resigning only in spring, 2018, when his health circumstances prevented further service. Professor Gilleaudeau's commitment to addressing food insecurity at Queensborough was only one of the many ways in which he demonstrated a deep and abiding concern for students on our campus. His example continues to inspire the members of the Committee on Food Insecurity who have followed him. May his memory be for a blessing.
This report closes with a list of individuals who offered financial donations, donations in kind (pantry supplies); or in effort (stocking, unpacking, staffing, or assistance with food drives and service-learning projects) during the 2017-2018 academic year:
President Diane Call; Vice-President Stephen Di Dio; Vice-President Timothy Lynch; Vice-President Rosemary Zins; Vice-President Michel Hodge; Dean Sandra Palmer; Chair Joseph Culkin and the faculty of the Department of Social Sciences; Chair Nidhi Gadura and the faculty and staff of the Biology Club (Biology Department); Chair Kathleen Villani, Professor Sebastian Murolo, Professor Ted Rosen, and the faculty and staff of the Business Department; Chair David Humphries, Dr. Susan Jacobowitz, Dr. Margot Edlin, and the faculty of the Department of English;Director Jeannie Galvin and the Faculty of Schmeller Library (Main Entrance of Schmeller Library)Chair Mercedes Franco and the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science; The Faculty and Staff of the Department of Foreign Languages; Dr. Lorena Ellis; Professor Indra Avens; Faculty of the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Dance: Dr. Lana Zinger; Dr. Alicia Sinclair; Dr. Rezan Akpinar; Dr. Antony Monohan; Professor Aviva Geismar; Dr. Wilma Fletcher-Anthony; Dr. Dorith Brodbar, and the Members of the Counseling Faculty; President Mabely Salvador, Mr. Michael Fischbach, and the members of the Queensborough Student Association; Dr. Philip Pecorino and the members of the Faculty Executive Committee; Ms. Gail Patterson and the Faculty and Staff of the Health-Related Sciences Academy; The Faculty and Staff of the STEM Academy; Ms. Lampeto Efthymiou; Ms. Gisela Rivera; Mr. Raymond Volel; Ms. Cathy Brandt and the Staff of the Office of Financial Services; Ms. Karen O’Sullivan and Ms. Helene Dyzenhaus, and the staff of the Financial Aid Office;Ms. Lourdes December and the Staff of the Title IX Office; Dr. Mangala Tawde and the members of the Environmental Sustainability Club; Ms. Marie-Francesca Berrouet and members of the Haitian Club; The Single Stop Office:Ms. Amawati P. Gonesh; Ms. Emily December; Ms. Michele McLoughlin; Mr. Carlos Herrera, Assistant Director, Services for Students with Disabilities; Members of the Services for Students with Disabilities Staff; Mrs. Sandra Williams Strauss, Career Advisement; Dr. Paris Svoronos and the members of the Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa; Dr. Jun Shin and the members of The Korean Student Association; Dr. Romel Robertson and the Members of the Psychology Club; Dr. Annisa Moody; Dr. Mark Van Ells; Dr. Maan Lin and students of the Asian Club, the ASAP Club, and the Liberal Arts Academy; Dr. Sebastian Murolo; The Ally LGBTQ club; Father Anthony Rosario; Father Edmund Doran and the members of the Newman Club; Ms. Isabel Huguet and the members of the Health Club; Chair Mercedes Franco, Dr. Monica Trujillo and the SACNAS QCC Chapter; Dr. Kimberly Riegel, Dr. Anuradha Srivastava, and Rezan Akpinar and the members of the Women in Science Club; Drs. Benjamin Miller, Jed Shahar, and the student members of the Creative Writing Club; Dr. Paris Svoronos and the students of the Chemistry Club; Dr. Patricia Schneider and the students of the Biology Club; The STEM Research Club; The Stock Market Club; Ms. Victoria O’Shea and the members of the ASAP Club; Ms. Isabel Huguet and the members of the Health Club; Dr. Trikartikaningsih Byas and the members of the Muslim Student Association; Professor Susan Wengler, Schmeller Library; Ms. Arthurine DeSola, Ms. Cynthia Puca, and the members of the College Discovery Club; The Director and Staff of Single Stop; Dr. Dorith Brodbar; Dr. Edward J. Gottlieb and the staff of the Mid-Nassau Dental Group; Mr. Jonathan Chin, of Love Through Food; Ms. Shovaine Singh, Queensborough Community College graduate; Lehman College Food Pantry administrator; An anonymous Queensborough alumnus donor
..And our amazing student volunteers:
Ms. Latesha Dayes (President, Lambda Sigma Chapter, Fall, 2017); Ms. Amanda Joy-Wright (President, Psychology Club);Ms. Sylvia Perez (Foreign Language Club); Mr. Colin Hughes, Director of NYPIRG, and the NYPIRG student volunteers: Anthony Vancol; Katherine Palma; Anny Mariano; Steven Stern; Winita Peters; Edward Guevara; Mr. Daniel Blount; Ms. Amanda Reis; Ms. Amanda Singh; Ms. Maria Virginia Villadiego; Ms. Suilyee Aung; Ms. Adriana Garces; Ms. Xiaofang Yu; Ms. Abbey-Gayle Robinson; Mr. Rocio Barba; Mr. Daniel Gamarra-Munoz; Ms. Monique Fisher; Ms. Monique Ritchie; Ms. Precious Ighide; Ms. Winita Peters; Mr. Kevin Cao
As Chair of the Committee on Food Insecurity of the Academic Senate of Queensborough Community College, I would like to offer my deepest thanks to the members of the Committee, Administration, Faculty, Staff, and Students of Queensborough Community College for their support of the Committee’s inceptive year, and the second year of operation for the Queensborough Food Pantry.
Respectfully Submitted,
Emily S. Tai, Outgoing Chair
