The Los Medanos College Food Pantry is having a cooking demonstration and taste testing on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Library Room 109. The event is being put on to help bolster the cooking ability of  students on campus. 

The Food Pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. 

For those unfamiliar, the LMC Food Pantry is a space on campus where students may obtain food and groceries at no cost. Established in the spring of 2017 by Student Life, the pantry is a resource readily available for any and all students. 

All you need to access the pantry is a student ID, and the filling out of an intake form which can be done online or in person. 

“Any currently enrolled student may utilize the pantry at any time and as many times during the week,” said Director of the Student Life program Teresa Archaga.

Located next to the cafeteria in room SS3-817, the pantry has a variety of foods for people to choose from. On top of allowing students to get food when they need it most, the Food Pantry also offers demonstrations that allow students to get hands-on experience with multiple methods of cooking.

“We identify recipes that we can make using the items we have on hand in the pantry,” said Archaga, “Items such as milk, eggs, cheese, fresh produce, and other nonperishable items are available in the pantry for students to choose from.”

Since its inception a few years ago, the Pantry has consistently increased the number of students it services. In fact, in its first year, the program only had 112 visitors in total. During the month of October 2019, they were able to service 552 students, marking the most students serviced in a single month in the Pantry’s history.

Student Ja’net Kent said, “I show up [to the Food Pantry] excited every day because I enjoy helping others.” 

The Student Life program hopes for a continued rise in numbers of students serviced, while also hoping to increase the number of donations received. 

“I’ve been working here since it opened,” said student Abigail Montemayor, “You learn that even though everybody leads a different life, we’re all individuals just trying to hold it together.”

The Pantry depends on charitable donations to ensure that it can continue operating and helping others. They accept non-perishable items such as school supplies, personal hygiene products, feminine products, and diapers. 

To donate money, please send a check payable to the Los Medanos College Foundation or donate online at losmedanos.edu/foundation/  and type “Food Pantry” on the memo line.

For more information, email [email protected].