By Jackson Heiden
The Grand Rapids Community College Athletic Department is teaming up with Student Life to support students that are struggling with acquiring food, by offering an incentive to receive either reduced price or free admission to two upcoming basketball games in exchange for canned goods.
Fans who bring three canned goods to either the Saturday, Jan. 15 game against Lansing Community College or the Wednesday, Jan. 19 game against Muskegon Community College will be admitted free. Those who bring one to two canned goods will be admitted for $1.
On Saturday, the women’s basketball team is set to tip-off at 1 p.m. with the men following at 3 p.m. On Wednesday, the women tip-off at 5:30 p.m. and the men following at 7:30 p.m.
All the canned goods received will be donated to the GRCC Food Pantry. The Food Pantry has served thousands of students since the beginning of the pandemic.
“The Athletics Department is part of our campus community, and it’s important for our student-athletes to be leaders on and off the court,” stated Athletic Director Lauren Ferullo in a press release. “This is an opportunity to support our campus food pantry, but also raise awareness of the problem of food insecurity and how it affects our students.”
GRCC’s Food Pantry is located in the Student Center and is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday. Students can register in the Student Life Office and can visit the pantry weekly.
GRCC’s Food Pantry and snack pantries are designed to meet the immediate food needs of students on campus by providing a variety of non-perishable food items and necessities to students and their families.
For more information about GRCC’s food pantry click here.
“We’re so appreciative of GRCC Athletics, and all of the student and community groups that have supported the Food Pantry,” stated Lina Blair, GRCC’s director of Student Life and Conduct in a press release.“Many of our students struggle with food insecurity, and the problem intensified during the pandemic. We’re fortunate to have a supportive community to help students overcome this obstacle.”
The food drive is part of a conference-wide effort organized by the Michigan Community College Athletic Association.
Students can connect with other campus and community resources by clicking here.
