Chicago, IL – In an effort to address food and hunger insecurity on campus, Kennedy-King College (KKC) and the Greater Chicago Food Depository today announced that the Englewood campus will open a permanent food pantry twice each week to serve current KKC students. The Healthy Student Market will open today in KKC’s Y Building in Room 114, and will operate during the fall and spring semesters on Wednesdays from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm and Thursdays from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Students can come and pick up fresh produce and shelf stable items at no cost.
“In light of the recent Real College survey and report that identified 60 percent of the KKC students who took the survey as food insecure, this permanent market will be a welcomed addition to campus,” said Kennedy-King president Greg Thomas. “This is just another of the many services we provide to support our students both in and out of the classroom so they can focus on their academics.”
All seven City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) partner with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to serve students and their families. Wright College, Truman College, Malcolm X College, Daley College, Harold Washington College have all opened these permanent Healthy Student Markets in the last year, and Olive-Harvey College plans to do so this fall, realizing the goal that the Greater Chicago Food Depository and City Colleges set out in the fall of 2018: establishing a model of on-site food access for all CCC schools by 2020.
“Hunger in our community is evolving and so must our response,” said Kate Maehr, the Food Depository’s executive director and CEO. “By partnering with City Colleges to open permanent markets in all of its seven schools, including this latest one at Kennedy-King College, we’re making sure all students have the food they need to achieve their goals.”
The Food Depository aims to offer CCC students healthy food at a day and time that is convenient for them, as well as increase the variety and choice of food items offered; provide opportunities to engage and empower student advocates; and make sure resources and support are available to the students that need it most.
The Healthy Student Market is one of many supports available with City Colleges students, including Wellness Centers that offer social/emotional support, Veterans Services Centers, Disability Access Centers, and scholarships for unique populations, such as eligible CPS students and Chicago Housing Authority residents. There is also an emergency fund for unforeseen, one-time crises, which is available to students on a first-come, first-served basis. The fund is administered by the non-profit All Chicago and made possible by an anonymous donor. It seeks to aid students who face unexpected roadblocks that would otherwise keep them from completing their degree by providing students up to $750 per semester. A housing coordinator, made possible by a $70,000 grant from Chicago Community Trust, is also available to help connect students to housing resources within sister agencies and community-based organizations.
For more information on City Colleges of Chicago and to apply, visit www.ccc.edu or call 773/C-O-L-L-E-G-E. For more information about the Greater Chicago Food Depository, visit www.chicagosfoodbank.org.
