Students in need of food assistance and other necessities have a new means to fulfill their needs at Baton Rouge Community College. Today BRCC, along with representatives from Healthy Blue Louisiana and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, held a grand opening for its new food pantry, The Store. Located on the BRCC Mid City Campus in the Bienvenue Student Center, The Store was created to address food insecurity and to ensure students have access to essential resources to meet their basic needs so that student success and degree completion remain a key focus.

To officially mark the grand opening of The Store, BRCC’s Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith, Mike Manning, President & CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank; and Dr. Christy Valentine-Theard, CEO of Healthy Blue Louisiana, participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by a tour of the pantry.

“We are grateful for the partnership and investment in our students by the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and Healthy Blue Louisiana,” said BRCC Chancellor Dr. Willie E. Smith. “Hunger remains a fundamental barrier to education access and completion for a significant number of students. The timing for the opening of our food pantry is a tremendous step forward in meeting the needs of many of our students. With the rising costs of food and other inflation increases, it is comforting to know that The Store can assist our students and the campus community with lending a helping hand in their time of need.”

Food insecurity is a prevalent issue on college campuses nationwide that goes largely unaddressed. To start the initial food pantry discussion, BRCC’s Student Government Association surveyed students and found there was a desire for a food source on campus. The name of the pantry, “The Store” was inspired by Baylor University’s food pantry, which provides discreetness among students in need. Some college community members may experience situational hunger, while others may demonstrate chronic hunger and an increased need for continued support.

the store

BRCC is now a partner agency with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and will receive monthly distributions from the organization for the qualifying members of the college community.

“We are excited to partner with BRCC to expand our efforts to address food insecurity on community college and university campuses,” said Mike Manning, President and CEO of the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.  “The Store at BRCC will bring much needed food assistance to the campus community and the BRCC family.”

Healthy Blue Louisiana donated a Traulsen G-series energy efficient commercial refrigerator with 46 cubic feet of storage space. The all metal construction and overall design enables better performance, which helps extend the life of fresh produce. The refrigerator is valued at $7,384.

“Healthy Blue is more than just a health insurance plan,” said Dr. Christy Valentine Theard, President of Healthy Blue Louisiana. “We are a trusted community partner who has made good on its promise to work with community organizations and come up with innovative solutions that address critical issues, such as food insecurity. We are listening to our communities, analyzing both health and social needs, and proactively taking action that not only furthers health equity, but also lays the foundation for better, healthier futures across our state.”

The Store at BRCC will help meet the immediate food and personal needs of BRCC campus community members and their families.

For information regarding how to apply for services, operational hours, or opportunities to work or volunteer, students can contact thestore@mybrcc.edu or dos@mybrcc.edu. Students in need will hear back from the pantry after completing an application. Students will have the option to shop at the store or place an order online for pickup. Some of the items the pantry will stock are canned foods, cold items, freezer items, assorted snacks, peanut butter, jelly, rice, beans, pasta, drinks, and other non-perishable food items.

In addition to partnerships with the BRCC Student Government Association, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, and Healthy Blue Louisiana, The Store was also made possible through United States Department of Education Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) funding.

BRCC Pantry Ribbon Cutting

Photo Cutline:Officials from Baton Rouge Community College, Healthy Blue Louisiana and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank cut the ribbon on the new food pantry, The Store at BRCC, today. The Store at BRCC was created to address food insecurity and to ensure students have access to essential resources to meet their basic needs so that student success and degree completion remain a key focus. Cutting the ribbon (from left) Dr. Pamela Ravare-Jones, BRCC Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives; Corlin LeBlanc, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration; Dr. Christy Valentine Theard, President of Healthy Blue Louisiana; Dr. Willie E. Smith, Chancellor of Baton Rouge Community College; Dr. Sarah Barlow, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs; and Mike Manning, President & CEO of Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank.