The newest pantry on the Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus was established on Sept. 11 to provide free access to food and hygiene products for students, faculty, and staff in need.
Located in ST217, the Thrive Pantry was created to support students’ well-being, allowing them to focus on their academic pursuits without the distraction of hunger or a lack of essential resources, according to Demetra Crawford, the director of Student Life at the TP/SS campus.
“As TP/SS has the highest population of international students among the MC campuses, the pantry also creates a sense of belonging, particularly for students who observe fasting or have specific dietary needs,” Crawford said, adding that “we wanted it to go beyond necessities such as water and blankets and offer culturally relevant snacks to support the diverse needs of our students.”
To explore creating a dedicated pantry space to provide a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where individuals could access resources, Crawford approached Janee McFadden, dean of Student Affairs, to discuss the logistics and gain support for establishing the pantry on campus. With McFadden’s support, Crawford’s vision was brought to life through collaboration with Julia Kann and Teir Lucas from the Student Wellness Center.
“My role at MC is all about supporting students in accessing food so they can succeed in their academic endeavors,” Julia Kann, the Food Insecurity Program Coordinator, said. “There’s a lot of energy in the Student Life Office to make this pantry happen, and it’s been great to play my role.
Kann also said that while a lot of teamwork is required across the MC campuses, she is grateful to the TP/SS campus staff who are part of the team creating the new pantry.
The pantry has increased foot traffic to the Student Life office, as individuals feel welcomed and supported, knowing they can find essential items in one convenient location, according to Crawford.
With its mission to address food insecurity, the Thrive Pantry is a testament to the college’s commitment to student welfare poised to impact the Montgomery College community, inspiring a more supportive environment.
“The Thrive Pantry has had an immense impact on students and faculty of the TP/SS campus, and it will be amazing to see how it can be implemented more as it has been discussed to be in the Germantown campus and possibly be one on the Rockville campus as well,” Crawford said.
Other pantries in the TP/SS campus are in four locations: Academic Success Center in CM110, Office of the Campus Dean in ST306, The Institute for Race, Justice, and Civic Engagement in the P4 building, room 202, and HC201.
