The St. Mary’s Food Bank semi-truck filled with nearly 11,000 pounds of food arrived at the Yavapai College Prescott campus early and was rapidly emptied by an army of volunteers that swarmed in to bag, box and bundle it for distribution. Hours later, the food was gone – deposited into the trunks and backseats of 111 cars -- destined to fill the shelves and refrigerators of nearly 200 local households.
“It was just so darned awesome,” said Gwen Payne, a senior financial aid advisor at YC and one of 63 volunteers who rolled up their sleeves to greet participants, bag potatoes, hoist gallons of milk, tear down cardboard boxes and move food from tented tables to awaiting cars, among other tasks.
The drive-through food distribution on Sept. 27 in partnership with St. Mary’s was a first for YC, which operates an emergency food pantry for students and their families. The college wanted to reach more community members in need and found a partner in St. Mary’s.
Cars came in waves throughout the morning, their occupants extremely grateful for the bounty, which included 5 pounds of frozen chicken and a box full of produce. “The smiles of the recipients and the volunteers were contagious. It was heartwarming for all of us,” Chambers said.
YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine has prioritized addressing the needs of students whose struggles outside the classroom put them at risk of giving up on their academic and career-training dreams. Along with the emergency food pantry and a student emergency fund, the college fund raises for unhoused students.
“Our college cannot be a pathway out of poverty if we are not willing to support our students while they are in poverty, ” Rhine said in an address to faculty and staff during Convocation in August. In the same remarks, Dr. Rhine shared that the college’s emergency food pantry – launched in 2019 in response to tremendous need -- served 897 students and their family members last academic year.
The college hopes to organize more food distributions in the future. “Every day in the YC food pantry we go about the business of helping our students with food so that they can reach their goals. Today we helped a community. We’re all in this together,” Chambers said.
Those who were unable to participate in YC’s inaugural drive-through food distribution can visit mohelp.org for other area food-sharing resources.
For more information, or to learn how to donate to YC’s emergency food pantry and other resources for students, visit yc.edu/foodpantry. Email Chambers, deborah.chambers@yc.edu.
Yavapai College operates six campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers more than 100 degrees and certificates, two baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities.
To learn more about YC, visit www.yc.edu