In the first months of 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the campus, CT State Manchester’s Cougar Pantry was often the only thing standing between some students and hunger.
Liberal Arts student Kallie Szabat began using the pantry then and still does.
“I feel like the pantry has contributed to my life because there are times when I don’t know if I have food for the weekend for my daughter or if I’m going to be able to make a meal out of what I have, so having that type of security makes feel better as a student,” she said.
Now Szabat volunteers at the pantry, helping others get the help they need, whether that is food, personal hygiene items or even clothes for an interview.
Over the summer the Cougar Pantry, which is in L149 in the Student Services Center building, underwent a “refresh,” said Laura Bruno, assistant director of Student Activities. The space now has chairs and tables, encouraging visitors to sit and eat, instead of grabbing and going. Additional shelves and cabinets have also been added to the backroom.
Other renovations are in progress, including to the Cougar Clothing Closet, which will now be housed in room SSC L148, right next to the pantry. It will feature a boutique set up with the donations of clean items in good shape.
The pantry gets donations from several sources, said Bruno, including Connecticut
Foodshare, one of the state’s largest food banks and part of a national network, as well as Gentle Love Diaper Pantry, which is a youth-run initiative that provides diapers, wipes, cream and other baby essentials to families in need within the Greater Manchester region.
“We do also retail rescue at Stop & Shop over in South Windsor, we pick that up every Friday and then through Foodshare we do deliveries every week,” said Bruno, adding that the Manchester Community College Foundation has also been a great partner with the Cougar Pantry, providing grants and other resources to support it.
The pantry is free and no identification is required. Walk in hours are Mondays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In addition to those hours, those in need have access to the pantry anytime the building is open through the Campus Security Office, who will unlock the door when asked.
For more information about the Cougar Pantry and other services contact Laura Bruno at [email protected]. For more information about food pantries at other campuses of CT State Community Colleges visit https://ctstate.edu/food-pantries.
