In an effort to combat campus food insecurity, Wallace Community College-Dothan (WCCD), through a partnership with the Wiregrass Area Food Bank, has established a student food pantry on both the Wallace Campus in Dothan and the Sparks Campus in Eufaula.
WCCD students on both campuses will have access to non-perishable items like canned goods, cereal, snacks, and even household items like laundry detergent. The food pantry on the Wallace Campus in Dothan is located in the cafeteria in Cunningham Hall; the Sparks Campus in Eufaula food pantry will be located in the Administration building. The hours of operation for both campuses will be Mondays from 1PM – 3PM and Thursdays from 9AM -12PM.
“Food insecurity has short- and long-term effects,” said Mickey Baker, WCCD Dean of Student Success and Sparks Campus. “However, we are trying to minimize the effect at Wallace by serving as a location for the College Campus Hunger Initiative. We hope that providing easy access to food can reduce food insecurity’s immediate negative consequences.”
“We aim to ensure that all students have the necessary resources to succeed,” said Baker.
“The Food Bank realizes students are not immune to the same challenges that affect everyone,” said David Hanks, Wiregrass Area Food Bank Chief Executive Officer. “In this time of inflation and higher food prices this is one way we can assist students in their education goals.”
The food is provided by the local food bank through the larger Heart of Alabama Food Bank in a statewide initiative to combat food insecurity on community college campuses.
“We are grateful to the Heart of Alabama Food Bank for stepping in and helping meet a need on the community college system level,” said Daymesha Reed, Student Life Coordinator. “Over half of our student population suffers from food insecurities. Meeting a physical need will in turn help meet an academic need.”