A MiraCosta College food pantry serving more than 1,200 students each month has received the highest level of certification from a leading nonprofit devoted to fighting hunger. Leah’s Pantry, a San Francisco-based organization promoting innovative nutrition programs to foster a more equitable and inclusive food system, will recognize MiraCosta College’s food pantry as Gold-level certified during an October 27 presentation at the Oceanside Campus. Leah’s Pantry lauded MiraCosta College for, among other things, having robust community connections that connect students to valuable resources, integrating nutrition education in pantry programming, providing high-quality resources to students and creating a client feedback survey to gauge satisfaction and target possible areas of improvement. More than 90 percent of some 170 students responding to a recent survey said they were ‘extremely satisfied’ or ‘satisfied’ with the services they received, and 94 percent rated the overall food pantry atmosphere as ‘excellent’ or ‘good.’
“Providing this level of support to students has been quite humbling,” said Devon Boone, MiraCosta College CARE Manager (CARE is an acronym for the Campus Assessment, Resources and Education team). “Beyond providing students with physical food items, it is important that we consider student voices in our approach to addressing food insecurity and how we modify our services to meet their needs. This recognition and certification from Leah’s Pantry prove our dedication to enhancing services in a dignified and caring way for students accessing the pantry and Farmer’s Market.” MiraCosta College’s CARE team worked closely with Leah’s Pantry in securing the Gold Certification. The CARE program is committed to taking a holistic approach to help students succeed, while addressing any challenges they may be experiencing to meet their basic needs such as food, housing, transportation, mental health, childcare, legal aid, and more. MiraCosta College and Leah’s Pantry are strategic partners in the San Diego Hunger Coalition and collaborate on healthy eating and cooking demonstrations at the Oceanside and San Elijo campuses. Leah’s Pantry certifies community pantries at the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels based on factors such as environment, impact, and practices. About MiraCosta College The MiraCosta Community College District has served the coastal North San Diego County area for over 80 years. More than 21,000 credit students per semester in over 70 disciplines enroll in associate degrees, university transfer and workforce readiness certificate programs. The college also serves a wide spectrum of educational needs in the region ranging from programs for adult education, basic skills, and ESL to a California Community College pilot program offering the nation’s first baccalaureate degree in biomanufacturing. MiraCosta College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Comments are closed.
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October 2024
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