Clark State Community College will host a variety of health and wellness programming for students and the community beginning this week.
The Food Pantry and Coat Closet Donation Drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, November 29 and Thursday, November 30 in the Sara T. Landess Technology and Learning Center Rotunda (Springfield), Greene Center Student Services Desk (Beavercreek) and Admissions Office (Bellefontaine). Donations for the food pantry and coat closet are appreciated year-round.
Honors Program students will be collecting:breakfast and lunch single-serve meals, snacks, bottled water, coats, gloves, sweaters, sweatshirts, umbrellas and personal care items.
The Clark State food pantry is separate from the monthly mobile food pantry, which also serves the surrounding community. “The food pantry on campus provides ready-made meals for lunch or breakfast,” said Nina Wiley, dean of student engagement and support services for Clark State. “It provides food to sustain a student through the day. Nourishment is important.”
The Clark State coat closet provides coats, jackets, umbrellas, gloves, scarves, hats, sweaters and sweatshirts to students who are in need. “When we hear of a student or notice a need, there are no questions asked,” said Wiley. “We want to be sure students have the proper apparel; we want to be sure they remain healthy, especially through cold months.”
Wiley said once an item is given to a student, it is theirs to keep. All items are donated and clean. Clark State utilizes a mobile coat rack in alternating locations to garner the attention of students who may need the service and to remind faculty and staff that they can send students for assistance.
The Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry will be on Clark State’s Leffel Lane campus (Lot G) on Wednesday, December 6 from 2 to 3 p.m.Food is available for students and the public in need of nutritional assistance.
Wiley said the Mobile Food Pantry served 58 families in October, including 12 new families. “We’re serving our community,” said Wiley who also volunteered in October. “It was a very humbling experience. It is something we will continue for students and the community. It is a great need.”
Individuals need to bring sturdy bags or boxes for food, state ID, plus proof of current address. Income is self-reported. Individuals are encouraged to arrive early, as the pantry runs on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We want to serve the needs of our students,” said Wiley. “Health and wellness are important, and we have a lot of generous people on campus that want to help in any way they can.”