Food Pantry, Free Bus Rides Popular With Sandburg Students

  Aaron S Frey
  Friday, December 20, 2019 9:44 AM
  Campus News

Galesburg, IL

Carl Sandburg College students are making the most of the expanded Resource Room Food Pantry and free bus rides.

Sandburg coordinator of student life Genny Stevens told the Sandburg Board of Trustees at its meeting Thursday evening on the Main Campus that the Resource Room has saved students more than $12,000 this semester and that ridership in the College’s partnership with Galesburg Transit is nearly double what it was last year.

Thanks to a donation from Mike and Mary Panther, the Resource Room moved to a larger location this year, added a freezer and refrigerator and has regular deliveries from River Bend Foodbank that include fresh produce, meat and other food for students at no cost to help combat food insecurity. The room averaged 180 total visits per month from August-November and was used by an average of 90 different students per month.

The College received six food deliveries during the fall semester and picked up two more orders at River Bend Foodbank’s location in Davenport, Iowa. Stevens said Sandburg received 7,634.63 pounds of food during the semester, with a wholesale value of $12,368.10.

The Resource Room Food Pantry is open from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9-11 a.m. Friday while classes are in session. New deliveries arrive the third Wednesday of every month. The room is open until 3 p.m. on delivery days.  The Resource Room is available to anyone presenting a current Sandburg ID.

Stevens also said ridership from Sandburg’s partnership with Galesburg Transit that began in 2017 is significantly higher this year. Any student with a current Sandburg ID can ride Galesburg Transit for free. That accounted for 5,331 rides from August-November of this year — up 98.8 percent from 2,681 rides during those months in 2018.

In other business, the Board approved the following:

• A bid from Wipfli CPAs and Consultants on a five-year audit services contract with the College.
• An annual vehicle allowance for President Dr. Seamus Reilly to cover mileage and normal wear and tear of his personal vehicle that is incurred due to his job duties and responsibilities.
• Resignation of Megan Patterson as academic advisor, effective Jan. 15.

The Board’s next scheduled meeting is 7 p.m. Jan. 23 on the Main Campus in Galesburg.