BARNEY’S PANTRY SEEKS DONATIONS

ASMHCC is collecting nonperishable food donations through Nov. 15 to help support students facing food insecurity, with collection bins available throughout campus.

By Natalie Brooks

The Advocate

Student scanning the shelves at Barney's Pantry. Photo by Chloe Hart-Methke

There are many Mt. Hood Community College students and their families who would greatly benefit from access to free food. Fortunately, the Associated Students of Mt. Hood Community College is hosting a food drive to help stock our own food pantry, Barney’s Pantry. 

The food drive, taking place from Oct. 15 through Nov. 15, is the perfect opportunity for students in our community to support other students who are in need. Barney’s Pantry is looking for non-perishable items, like canned food, rice, beans, and pasta, which students can give to the Pantry by putting the donated food into clearly labeled bins across campus, including the Library, Student Union, Athletics office and outside Barney’s Pantry.

Due to budget cuts, Barney’s Pantry (Room AC1261) has reduced its hours to Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday during the Fall term, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

ABOUT 120 VISITORS A DAY

Barney's Pantry serves approximately 120 people daily, according to pantry coordinator Rachel Dillard.

Funding for Barney’s Pantry comes from donations from staff and community members. The only employee is Rachel Dillard, the Barney’s Pantry Coordinator. Her position is funded through Student Life. Dillard is responsible for ordering, shopping for and picking up the food that is available at the pantry. Additionally, there are six students who work in the pantry through work-study programs. One anonymous student employee mentioned they loved working at the pantry because, “We spend a lot of time with the people here, and it is a really peaceful place,” and another anonymous employee excitedly proclaimed that Barney’s Pantry “is the best place in all the campus!”

HELP STOCK BARNEY'S PANTRY

FOOD DRIVE

Oct. 15–Nov. 15

DONATE

Canned food, rice, beans, pasta and other nonperishable items

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

Library, Student Union, Athletics office and Barney's Pantry, Room AC1261

A student looking through the refrigerator in Barney's pantry. Photo by Chloe Hart-Methke

The food Barney’s Pantry provides comes from the Oregon Food Bank, Amazon donations and Birch Community Services. The Oregon Food Bank makes up about 75% of donations to the pantry with twice weekly online orders with each order includes approximately 3,000 to 4,000 pounds of food each. Amazon donations mostly consist of snacks and drinks provided in the ECRC. Birch Community Services is a Gresham based nonprofit that does require shoppers to purchase the food, and is where a large portion of Barney’s Pantry’s monetary donations go towards during Dillard’s weekly shopping trips. 

“At Birch, I take my own vehicle and I basically take a grocery cart and I shop with what they have available in that big warehouse and I get whatever I can fit in my car,” Dillard describes.

“If you have the extra food, and you wanna help out, it’s a good idea to.” — Nick Stone, ASMHCC civic engagement and legislative affairs representative

Aside from Amazon’s snacks, the food Barney’s Pantry typically has available consists mostly of produce and perishable items, but also contains dry foods like rice, beans and pasta. Dillard explained that with visitor numbers reaching “about 120 people per day… the food that we get in here usually leaves the same day.”

Nick Stone, the ASMHCC Civic Engagement and Legislative Affairs Representative, is one of the students in charge of the Food Drive. He wanted to emphasize, “If you have the extra food, and you wanna help out, it’s a good idea to.” Although the Food Drive ends on Nov. 15, students and community members are always welcome to donate food to Barney’s Pantry in the permanent bin outside the Pantry or by bringing food and monetary donations inside to the employees of the Pantry.