Durham Tech partners with NC Cooperative Extension to distribute meals to students in need

The Campus Harvest Food Pantry at Durham Tech has temporarily set up an emergency assistance distribution site in downtown Durham to serve students in need.

When Durham Tech campuses closed to students in response to COVID-19 in mid-March, the food pantry was no longer accessible, but Durham Tech staff worked to find other solutions, culminating in an offer from North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Durham County Center to serve as a distribution site for students.

“Bringing the pantry into our downtown office is fantastic because I was supremely worried about the students we serve since the campus closed,” said Cheralyn Berry, Extension Agent for Durham County Cooperative Extension. “We have the perfect set up for safe distribution of healthy food so it was easy to make the leap to bring the operation into our office.”

The facility stores food from the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, Restaurant Depot and Food Lion; fresh produce from Briggs Avenue Community Garden; frozen family meals prepared by Jordan Fulchiero, Executive Chef at the Durham Tech Café; and baby items from the Cooperative Extension’s Welcome Baby program.

“I was stunned at such a generous offer,” said Erin Riney, Director of Student Engagement at Durham Tech. “Cooperative Extension wants to provide us space, personnel, time, and supplies – without getting anything tangible back in return. It seemed too good to be true. They simply want to help our students. Our community is rallying for our students and making a difference in their lives.”

Donations will be distributed one day per week, and students must complete a form to set an appointment for pickup.

“If students are reducing the size or nutrition of their meals, worrying about how they'll feed their kids next week, or unsure how they'll pay other critical bills or expenses, they should absolutely sign up,” Riney said. “They don't need to worry about whether there's enough to go around. Let us worry about how we'll serve all the students who have a need.”

Nearly 140 bags of groceries and more than 80 frozen meals were distributed to students in the first two distribution days, which also include fresh produce and toiletries.

“Durham Tech food pantry clients were already in sensitive positions in life. It is of utmost importance that we support them at all times, but especially now so they can continue their studies while supporting their families,” Berry said. “Organizations working together to leverage resources makes us stronger and allows us to serve those most in need in a more effective way.”

Riney said the success of this new distribution site has also been a college-wide effort.

“Jes Dormady, Coordinator of the Center for College and Community Service, has been at grocery stores at 6 a.m. to beat the crowds and get the hard-to-find items for our students,” Riney said. “She's working on the weekends, answering calls and texts at night, stretching a budget, and constantly problem-solving. Chef Jordan and Ms. Linda in the Durham Tech Cafe are creating fantastic frozen meals on a budget, not because it's their job, but because they care about our students. Our work-study students are also completing extra training and making follow up calls to see if students have what they need.”

Employees have also donated more than $1,500 to the Food Pantry food through the Durham Tech Foundation.

Cooperative Extension and Durham Tech have been partners since 2010 through the Briggs Avenue Community Garden, which provides fresh produce for the Campus Harvest Food Pantry.

“Growing fresh food for and with the students is a joy,” Berry said. “This has been the most wonderful partnership and one of the highlights of my career. It is a privilege to serve the people of Durham in this way during these challenging times.”

The Durham County Center, located at 721 Foster Street, will serve as the emergency assistance distribution site as long as food supplies and donations last, which is expected to be a few weeks.

To contribute to this cause, visit the Durham Tech Foundation donation webpage and select Food Pantry from the drop down menu.
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Contact Marcy Gardner, Content and Social Media Coordinator, at gardnerm@durhamtech.edu