After the successful launch of the Snack Pack Food Initiative Program last year, the Hinkle Center is adding a food support program this fall.
Launched last month, Hinkle Student Resource Center Coordinator, Rhonda Donovan, and her team added a free Meal Kit Initiative program to the Bradner Library. Food insecurity has a lot of stigma around it, and even if people are open about struggling with other issues, food seems to be something people don’t like to discuss. “When it comes to food, students just do not want to want to disclose their food insecurity,” said Donovan.
These kits provide students with simple recipes with five ingredients or fewer to complete the recipe. This is an anonymous, self-service program with signage and bins like the snack pack. They are also restocked when necessary, so students in need can have access to the meal kits at all times.
The reason the kits are located in the library is because the building stays open later than McDowell Student Center, and they are open on Saturday’s so if a student needs one on the weekend, they will have access to the box.
What is also important about these boxes is that if students don’t like a certain ingredient or snack in the packs, they are able to put the ones that they don’t like back in the bin for them to use in another pack.
While the Hinkle Center does have grants that help pay for the meals that they make for students, they also have community partnerships that donate food for our students. A local church is helping provide some of these meals.
“There’s a local church that also is helping us. They actually donated all of the rice and bean pouches” said Donovan.
The Hinkle Center is currently working on different types of meal kits, such as the Snack Pack program, quite popular, which can be found on different buildings around campus (outside of the Hinkle Center, Testing Center, in the Bradner Library, and in the Mechanical Engineering Center (MEC) off campus) and also trying to incorporate new ones that are no-cook. That way if a student does not have access to a stove, they will still be able to make the meal for themselves. Donovan and her team are hoping to see a similar success with their meal kits.
If students want to help with the meal kits, they can do a number of things. If they have some extra time in between classes, they can help Donovan and her team pack the food into the bags with the ingredients.
If they don’t have time, they can always make a donation. Not only does Hinkle Center have a QR code where you can donate money, they also take non-perishable food items. There are items that they will be putting in a lot of these bags like pasta or canned vegetables. Even if they can’t be used in the meal packs specifically, they can always be donated to the Student Food Pantry on campus.
Donovan encourages students who are able to donate to support that way if they want to get involved. “There is a donation bin in our (McDowell Student Center) building. All you have to do is buy it and drop it off.”
Students can also help by supplying different recipes that are five ingredients or less and affordable for the college. If a student makes these meals for themselves, they can send it to Donovan so that they can have more variety in the meals they provide.
For more information on how to get involved or to donate, contact the Hinkle Center at 734-462-4443 or email [email protected].
