Danville Community College (DCC) personnel bagged and distributed food from the campus’ food pantry to students via makeshift drive-through service earlier this month.
On April 7, 9, and 10, while maintaining recommended social distancing practices, DCC personnel distributed most of the items from the Knights Pantry student food bank.
“We launched Knights Pantry to address the major issue of student food insecurity,” DCC President Jackie Gill Powell said. “Nothing is more distracting to the learning process than an empty stomach. We don’t want any of our students to face that obstacle on their path to academic success.”
Canned stew, chili, tuna, macaroni and cheese, and soup are just some of the items given away to students who participated in the drive-through pickup.
The pantry is nearly exhausted, but DCC continues its commitment to keeping its students in top learning condition in the days ahead.
“Our coaches are in close contact with our students and have made them aware that we can assist them if they have any needs in the future,” said Cheryl Terry, student support services division dean.
DCC's Knights Pantry was made possible in part by a donation from the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation through the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education.
“With all the insecurity we are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic, the last thing our students need to worry about is not being able to receive food from the Knights Pantry,” said DCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Development Shannon Hair. “Members of the college community joined together to make this event possible for our students and their families.”
Danville Community College is a two-year institution of higher education under the state-wide Virginia Community College System. DCC's service area includes the City of Danville, Pittsylvania County, and Halifax County. For more information about the college’s nearly 100 programs of study, visit www.danville.edu.