Fullerton College Thanksgiving Food Drive Set for Nov. 24
Thanksgiving will soon be upon us, as many students and families continue to face hunger and homelessness during the pandemic. Fullerton College is proud to announce that nearly 400 students will receive groceries and grocery gift cards during a special Thanksgiving distribution. This is a 500 percent increase over past years and can be credited to the action the college has taken to provide extra support to students since COVID-19 closed the campus.
The holiday food drive will take place on Tuesday, November 24 at 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and will replace the Healthy Hornet Drive-Thru food distribution typically held on Thursdays in Staff Parking Lot A and 8. Donations in the form of grocery and Visa gift cards are being collected to directly support students at the event.
“Creativity and determination were necessary in developing this public, private, non-profit partnership that came together to serve the needs of Fullerton College students,” said Dana Timmermans, who oversees operations of the Fullerton College Food Bank. “We’re extremely thankful to our partners, Pathways of Hope and Sodexo, who will help us provide bags of groceries and seasonal food for students this Thanksgiving. It’s an honor to combine this effort with MEChA and Ethnic Studies, who have helped students this time of year for more than a generation.”
Since April, the Healthy Hornet Drive-Thru has served more than 8,000 students with weekly meal kits, groceries, personal hygiene products and other essential items, such as diapers and face coverings. This holiday, the drive-thru service will combine efforts with the Fall Harvest, a 51-year-old Fullerton College tradition led by MEChA de FC and the Ethnic Studies Department. The Fall Harvest traditionally has provided students with everything they need for a Thanksgiving meal.
“As you can imagine, there have been some major changes this year. Thankfully, we have plenty of seasonal foods this year, so we’re asking our campus community to donate grocery or Visa gift cards in any denomination through November 24,” said Ethnic Studies Department Chair Amber González.
Each student who signs up for the Thanksgiving food distribution will receive a grocery gift card to help with additional expenses.
Those wishing to donate a gift card may drop them off at the Healthy Hornet Drive-Thru on Nov. 19, and Nov. 24, or at the Library Returns Book Drop, available 24/7 thru Nov. 18.
The North Orange County Community College District Management Association donated $500 in grocery store gift cards to the Fall Harvest and hope its donation will spark others to give, said DMA President Lisa McPheron.
“I am so proud of our students for persevering during this difficult time. Every week, 300-350 students access the Healthy Hornet Drive-Thru. I hope to see our campus and surrounding community give what they can for the Fall Harvest so we can step up this support just in time for the holidays,” McPheron said.
Students can sign up for the Thanksgiving food distribution beginning the afternoon of Thursday, Nov. 19 through noon on Monday, Nov. 23.
