North Hennepin Delivers Thanksgiving Meals, Part of Ongoing Hunger Relief Efforts
A handful of students attending North Hennepin Community College (NHCC) will be getting Thanksgiving meals delivered to their homes this week. Rolando Garcia, NHCC’s president, will be making some of those deliveries himself.
“All the 30 families we are currently serving are getting a Thanksgiving meal. I’m just having to deliver to three, but we have a number of staff members that have volunteered to also deliver their meals for the week,” said Garcia.
Rolando Garcia, president of NHCC, delivering Thanksgiving meals to students.
Since September, the school has been delivering 300 meals a week to students. The college received a $55,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Education expanded meal access program. The grant is to be utilized through December.
“Honestly with COVID, that’s had an impact on students,” said Garcia. “Some lost work. Some, because they’re quarantining, haven’t been able to go out to get food as well. Those have presented some challenges. So we are stepping up and filling those gaps in their lives to help them through this period.”
Garcia added that in order to be successful in the classroom, students need support beyond school. He said the meals will allow them to focus on their studies so they can make progress towards their educational goals.
The meals are made by a Minneapolis-based Tiffin Man Global Kitchens.
The college also has a food cupboard that is open to all NHCC students.
