Annual Report for 2021-2022

Alves, Kathleen, Dr. (English)

Cornick, Jonathan, Dr. (Mathematics and Computer Science)

Cupelli, Lorraine, Professor (Nursing)

DiGiorgio, Elizabeth, Professor (Art and Design)

Gmuca, Angela, Ms. (Faculty and Staff; Secretary)

Klepper, Ashlie, Professor (Speech and Theatre; Chair)

McClam, Nicole, Professor (Health, Physical Education, and Dance)

Roblodowski, Christopher, Dr. (Biological and Geological Sciences) 

Tai, Emily, Dr. (History)

Gonesh, Amawati, Ms., Director of Queensborough’s Advocacy Resource Center;

Mitra, Brian, Dr. Vice President of Student Affairs and Presidential Designee

Weprin, Ronni, Ms. (Special Events Coordinator and Presidential Designee)

Cornick, Jonathan, Dr. (Mathematics and Computer Science)

Cupelli, Lorraine, Professor (Nursing)

DiGiorgio, Elizabeth, Professor (Art and Design)

Gmuca, Angela, Ms. (Faculty and Staff)

Klepper, Ashlie, Professor (Speech and Theatre; Chair)

McClam, Nicole, Professor. (Health, Physical Education, and Dance; Secretary)

Tai, Emily, Dr. (History)

Ganzi, Sara, Dr. (Biological and Geological Sciences) 

Sosnovski, Bianca, Dr.  (Mathematics and Computer Science)

Klepper, Ashlie, Professor (Chair)

Gmuca, Angela, Ms. (Secretary)

The Committee on Food Insecurity met three times virtually during the fall, 2021 semester, on Monday, September 30, 2021, Wednesday, October 5th, 2021  and Wednesday, December 15, 2021. The Committee then met twice virtually during the Spring, 2022 semester on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022 and May 11th, 2022.

• Administration of Pantry Hours, 2021-2022 academic year:

Despite being in the middle of the pandemic and thanks to faculty volunteers, the pantry held regular hours during the fall and spring semester. In the fall semester the pantry was open: 

Monday: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thursday: 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 2 p.m (by appointment) 

           In the spring semester the pantry was open:

Monday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Tuesday: 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Wednesday: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursday: 9:00am - 10:00am, 2:00pm - 3:00pm, & 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am - 10:00am & 12:30pm - 1:30pm

*In the fall of 2021 semester, the pantry had 314 visitors. In the spring of 2022, the pantry had 599 visitors. In total, we had 913 visitors.

The committee would like to thank the following non-committee faculty volunteers for enabling us to do this: Dr. Patrick Byers (Social Sciences), Dr. Yusuf Gurtas (Mathematics and Computer Science), Vikki Terrile (Library), Neera Mohess (Library), Arthur Adair (Communication, Theatre and Media Production/Academic Affairs), Stefan Spezio (Center for Tutoring and Academic Support), Sara Danzi Engoron (Biological Sciences and Geology), Sarbani Ghoshal (Biological Sciences and Geology), Barbara Frary (Business), Philip Nelan (Nursing), Michael Pullin (Academic Affairs) and Wendy Ford (Business.

• Expansion of pantry access outside of open hours:
  Thanks to the help of our pantry volunteer Professor Vikki Terrile and Professor Jeanie Galvin (Library), we started a new initiative where we had prepackaged bags available behind the reference desk at the library. This served as a convenient way for students to get pantry items when the pantry was closed or when classes were not in session but the school was still open. At this point, over 50 bags have been distributed by our librarians. A special shout out to Neera Mohess for continuing the library distribution of bags this summer while Professor Terrile was on annual leave.
  
  
• Food Distribution Events
  The college hosted several successful food events during the year where students could pick up pre-packed bags in front of the Administration building. These were orchestrated by Ms. Ronni Weprin from the Office of Institutional Advancement. 
  • Thanksgiving Drive (Wednesday November 24th, 2021) 
    • Served approximately 250 students
    • Speciality items were given out such as frozen turkeys, pies, stuffing mix, root vegetables, etc.
      
      
  • Finals Week Drive (Thursday May 12th, 2022)
    • Served approximately 200 students
    • Speciality items were given out such as loafs of bread, fruit and vegetables.
      
      

• Students who needed more help than the pantry could provide were referred to the Advocacy Resource Center (formerly Single Stop) directed by Ms. Amawati Gonesh. Amawati and Ronni coordinated gift cards for students to use as well.

• To the extent that the current model of a faculty/administrative partnership may continue, it is recommended that any service to the pantry---whether in the form of donated time (Pantry hours) or donations in kind (Pantry supplies) be noted either as college service or in Committee reports to the Academic Senate, out of respect to faculty and staff members who make these donations, and in the same spirit that financial contributions to the Queensborough Community Fund receive acknowledgment for tax purposes
• The Committee should continue to explore ways to further promote the Queensborough Food Pantry and promulgate resources for food and housing-insecure students.  
• The Committee should continue to work with Student organizations and clubs to promote Food drives that can re-stock/unpack for the pantry, and should continue to partner with administration in exploring grant and fund-raising opportunities that might yield scaled-up pantry stocking and/or food purchase support for students off-campus. 
• Continue to support and promote campus sponsored food drives 
• Continue to have 1 major food distribution event a semester (thanksgiving in the fall and one in the spring)
• Continue to work closely with the Advocacy Resource Center (ARC) to provide assistance for students who need more help than the food pantry alone can provide.
• Develop and conduct an orientation day to take place at the beginning of every semester to train non committee member pantry volunteers to ensure the pantry is operating smoothly and cohesively
• Reorganize the A-119 space to make it accessible, inviting and visible to students

• President Christine Mangino for all her support
• David and Amy Mandell of Holiday Farms for their generous donation to our Thanksgiving event.
• The Hungry Monk for the generous donation of non-perishables to our pantry in the fall
• Stop & Shop for their generous donation as well as their donation of reusable totes that were used during our Final’s Week event.
• Former President Diane Call for the generous donation she provided on behalf of her late mother Lucille A. Bova
• The Petrie fund which provides a generous grant to stock the pantry
• The NYC Council for their donations to food pantries and low-income CUNY students 
• Vice-President Stephen Di Dio, Mr. Philip Roncoroni and Ms. Carrie Blank of Marketing for their assistance in helping our students create a promotional video for the pantry. 
• Student Volunteers: We are grateful to Dr. Emily Tai and Queensborough's Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa students for their hard work volunteering at the pantry and at events this semester. Eternal gratitude to: Mr. Wai Cheung Tung, Ms. Liza Fernanda Ledesma Villada​, Ms. Maisha Meem  (PTK President)​, Ms. Bushra Khan Ms. Delasia Vanterpool (PTK Vice-President), Mr. Zachary Amachee (PTK Senator), Mr. Jeremiah Torres, Ms. Nikole Penaloza Barros ​and Ms. Nanni Dagargulia
• Pantry Volunteers: We are grateful for all those not on our committee who worked hours at the pantry and helped us prepare for our large food distribution events. Eternal gratitude to Dr. Patrick Byers (Social Sciences), Arthur Adair (Communication, Theatre, and Media Production), Dr. Yusuf Gurtas (Mathematics and Computer Science), Dr. Sarbani Ghoshal (Biological Sciences and Geology),  Dr. Sara Danzi Engoran (Biological Sciences and Geology), Professor Vikki Terrile (Library), Magedelin Abreu (Buildings and Grounds) and Susan Fung (Marketing)