Highline provides direct aid to students, staff members, and others who may be experiencing a shortage of food through the community pantry on campus.
Some of the fruits and vegetables the community pantry provides; apples, oranges, and potatoes.
Starvation is a serious problem within the world and dealing with malnourishment can lead to damage to someone’s mental and physical health.
Food banks help with this issue and provide food for those in need.
The Highline pantry staff said that they have three main sources where they obtain food for the pantry. Those three resources include: food rescues, food banks, and food that were purchased by staff.
Some of the food provided in the community pantry are fresh beverages and fresh fruits. And some days may include cakes and expensive food items, such as Starbucks.
Jocelynn Nguyen/THUNDERWORD
Table of foods and snacks the community pantry supplies; granola, pastries, sandwiches, veggie trays, corn chips and bread.
The community pantry at Highline displays a welcoming environment as colleagues and friends said they enjoy their service and spending time there.
Moreover, not only does this help students and staff meet new people, but it also gives the staff of the pantry a warm feeling in the job they do to help others.
Their goal as a team is to help anyone in need. One way they show their dedication is from the home deliveries they’ve done for the previous two years, since COVID-19 hit.
Many students feel supported since learning about the community pantry on campus.
Jocelynn Nguyen/THUNDERWORD
Donettes, Fruit Pie, Little Bites, and Bouncers are some of the snacks the community pantry offers.
“It is a great help from the college, as being an international student sometimes we are out of money and the food pantry gives us a whole bunch of boxes in which we usually get a lot of vegetables, fruits and even fresh meat,” said Highline student Andrew.
Some even expressed how much they appreciate visiting the pantry and the help provided by the workers.
Another Highline student, Marhabba, said she always comes to the pantry on Thursdays and gets food and enjoys the way the staff helps her to get the food.
Furthermore, the Highline pantry staff also said that the food pantries are kept with thermometers in fridges so that frozen items stay cool.
The products contain an expiration date and must be thrown out immediately if they either expire soon or are already expired.
One of the employers, Sheridan, said they were given a frequent number of hours to work here, and also said she loves to work at the pantry. As people come to check out the community pantry, it also gives the employer a chance to make new friends.
Jocelynn Nguyen/THUNDERWORD
Highline community member poses for a picture while visiting the community pantry.
The community food pantry is not the only place where students and staff can come and grab a bite, but it’s also a place where you can give back to the community by donating food for those in need.
For those who would like to check out the community pantry on campus, it is located in Building 16, room 180. Its hours are every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Thursdays from 1 p.m to 4 p.m.