From left to right, FTCC Foundation Executive Director Sandy Ammons; FTCC President Dr. J. Larry Keen; FTCC Senior Vice President of Academic & Student Services Dr. Mark Sorrells; Instructor and Program Coordinator for Psychology & Sociology Dr. Kenjuana McCray; Interim Director of Student Services Marlina Pineiro; Business Instructor Daisy Foxx; and Vice President of Administrative Services Joseph Levister
Fayetteville Technical Community College has opened a food pantry on its campus to help FTCC students who are in need.
The College held a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, Nov. 17, to celebrate the opening of the pantry, which is located in the Early Childhood Education Center on the FTCC campus.
The pantry contains nonperishable food and personal care items, donated by FTCC employees and students, local supermarkets and businesses, civic groups, and members of the community. Eligible students may also be issued supermarket gift cards for purchasing perishable food items.
Initially, the pantry will be open to needy FTCC students on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The pantry is an extension of FTCC’s efforts to help students dealing with economic hardship caused by or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, the College has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid to needy students through federal CARES Act funds. FTCC Foundation has also provided tens of thousands of dollars in other aid to students in need.
Hunger is a particular problem for too many people. Last year, before the pandemic, nearly 11 percent of all U.S. households experienced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This year, nearly 1 in every 4 households is estimated to have experienced food insecurity.
The food pantry is located next to FTCC’s Success Closet which takes donations of professional attire to give to students who are going on job interviews, making classroom presentations or representing FTCC in any capacity.
Donations for the pantry will be needed on an ongoing basis and will be gratefully accepted. Donors may request receipts for tax-deductible purposes. Donations of nonperishable food items and personal care items may be taken weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to FTCC’s Property Control Office at 248 Hull Road, across from the Rose Garden. Cash or gift cards for the pantry should be taken to FTCC Foundation, located in Room 114 of the Harry F. Shaw Virtual College Center at 225 Hull Road. Monetary donations may also be made at www.faytechcc.edu/giving or by calling the Foundation at 910-678-8441.
Kaylen Matos, an assessment retention specialist for FTCC
