NMCC Receives Grant to Address Food Insecurity
Northern Maine Community College has received funding recently to create 86 “24-hour Meal Packs.”
NMCC Student Navigator Ashley Hall and senior business student Lacie LeGassie felt motivated to apply for a grant from the Maine Campus Compact in an effort to battle food insecurity on campus after attending a summit on Universities Fighting World Hunger back in March.
The 86 “24-hour Meal Packs” are now available to students in need, and additional funds will be available in December. Each pack provides students with a full day’s worth of non-perishable food, including three meals and two snacks. The goal of these Meal Packs is to support students’ nutrition in an effort to help them academically.
The food in the Meal Packs was purchased with support from Josh Tweedie, president and owner of Hillside IGA, Mars Hill IGA and Star City IGA.
In addition to the meal packs, Hall is working with other community resources to provide education on healthy eating on a budget as well as information sessions on how the Department of Health and Human Services can help support longer-term needs impacting food security.
The 24-hour Meal Packs are available to students either through the library circulation desk or through any of the school counselors.