Lions' Roar Student Voice Campus Cupboard - November Issue

Lions’ Roar Student Voice

Normandale Community College Has A Food Shelf!

The Lions’ Roar Student Voice staff showcases the exciting new community outreach program called the Campus Cupboard.

Students In Need Students from Normandale Community College’s Center for Experiential Education decided to open up a Campus Cupboard. The students heard of other schools opening their own food shelves and thought it would be great for Normandale. They started out by doing an anonymous survey in random classrooms to determine the need for a cupboard. The results of the survey showed that 25% of the 400 plus students regularly come to school hungry and do not have the financial resources to purchase food. They also looked at the Financial Aid Office records and found that more than 300 students self reported that they receive food stamps each semester. “We knew that more than those 300 students were coming to school hungry because people do not always want to share they are in financial need” said Wanda Kanwischer, Assistant Dean of Students.

Due to those results the students and faculty involved with the Center for Experiential Education decided it was necessary to open up a food shelf. ~Vera Hills, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

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Good In The Hood Shawn Morrison is the executive director at Good in the Hood which is a non profit organization that is dedicated to focus acts of kindness that can help make a difference in people’s lives. Shawn Morrison wanted to create an organization that was user friendly and something that everyone could do. So in February 2013, Good in the Hood was started. With focusing on poverty and victims of overwhelming situations Good in the Hood helps people by not only giving people a hand out, but also focuses on giving people a “hand up.” Not just doing things for them, but doing things with them and having them invest in their future.

~Georgie Anderson, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

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Students Helping Students Normandale Community College requires community service in some courses or Service Learning. Students can satisfy their hours through a number of different programs such as the H.O.M.E. program or the Second Harvest Heartland organization. The Normandale Campus Cupboard is another option for students to volunteer. The Campus Cupboard is supported by the organization Good in the Hood, which provides most of the food. The Campus Cupboard aims to help students in need of a meal during the day. They take volunteers such as students with Service Learning requirements in order to help students in need. Jonathan Guzman a student at Normandale Community College is a volunteer and in an interview he explained how the Campus Cupboard works, how it has helped him, as well as its impact on the community. ~Miguel Zetina, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

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Who is It Benefitting?

The Campus Cupboard currently has approximately 7474 food items on hand.

This is quite a large number, but each food item is counted individually, such as a single packet of oatmeal, or a granola bar. Some food items at the Cupboard go very fast, and others take a bit longer to be claimed by Normandale students.

Phethile (Patty) Kunene, a student volunteer at the Campus Cupboard, has three things to say to students about the Campus Cupboard: “It’s available, it’s a free service, and it’s for them!”

~Amy Warwick, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

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Students In Need

Due to those results the students and faculty involved with the Center for Experiential Education decided it was necessary to open up a food shelf. I had the honor of being able to talk to Wanda Kanwischer, Assistant Dean of Studens to find out more about the Cupboard. Here is our interview:

VH: What exactly is the Campus Cupboard?

WK: It is a food shelf that strives to meet the school day nutritional value needs of students that receive financial needs and come to school hungry.

VH: What types of food does it provide?

WK: Students can get convenience food items. They must be non-­‐perishable, single-­‐serving items that can be prepared on campus.

VH: How did it get started?

WK: We were doing a hunger series. We did a survey of random classes and found out that 25% of those students cannot afford food and come to school hungry. Also, 400 plus students self reported to the Financial Aid office that they receive food stamps each semester.

VH: Where does the food come from?

WK: Already for Service Learning. We are a satellite location of Good in the Hood and they have donated all of our food. We had a trick or treat for hunger at Normandale and received 400 plus items from that. We got money from the Toast of the Town event and gave that to Good in the Hood for donating all the food to us.

VH: Do you get help from Normandale?

WK: No, we only receive donations and funding from Good in the Hood.

VH: Who works at the Cupboard?

WK: A small core of work study students, but mostly volunteers.

VH: What went into getting the Cupboard started?

WK: The board of faculty, staff and students had the idea. We brought in Shawn [Morrison from Good in the Hood] to help with how to get it started. We needed to ask if the campus would allow it. How we would get the food and licensure to have the Cupboard. We needed to consider having health inspections. How we would keep the dignity of the students. Making sure we remember what we are about and implementing what the school had decided.

VH: Is there anything else you would like to let us know about the Cupboard?

WK: We have been contacted by six or seven colleges and universities that want to set up their own cupboards which include, MCTC, Augsburg, Century, Inver Hills, and Seattle. We have been holding information sessions for these colleges, given them a tour of our Cupboard and have introduced them to Good in the Hood. Our next information session is December 7thand St. Cloud State University is attending that session.

Vera Hills, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

Good$In$The$Hood$

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Shawn Morrison is the executive director at Good in the Hood which is a non profit organization that is dedicated to focus acts of kindness that can help make a difference in people’s lives. Shawn Morrison wanted to create an organization that was user friendly and something that everyone could do. So in February 2013, Good in the Hood was started. With focusing on poverty and victims of overwhelming situations Good in the Hood helps people by not only giving people a hand out, but also focuses on giving people a “hand up.” Not just doing things for them, but doing things with them and having them invest in their future. When I asked Shawn about the organization he stated that “It’s not just giving, giving can be a black hole, It’s giving with a spirit of investment where you inspire others to also give back because if they don’t ever have that motivation then they receive these things and then what happens is it becomes about them. The way to help people is to get their focus off themselves and to get their eyes on a vision, a perspective, something that is more noble than just themselves and they will benefit as they are activating and helping others. They’ll feel good about themselves, they’ll gain significance and a sort of dignity.”

Shawn’s slogan on Good in the Hood is, “To create a contagious momentum of kindness. You think of contagious as typically a disease I like to redeem that word and make it for something that’s really good and positive.” Good in the Hood licenses, insures, and provides the product for Campus Cupboard. So it’s an actual program of Good in the Hood, but the Campus Cupboard provides the facility, student workers, and some of the infrastructure on the internal. Good in the Hood takes care of the external, where Normandale does the internal.

Georgie Anderson, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

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Miguel Zetina interviewed a Student named Jonathon Guzman who volunteers at the Campus Cupboard. Here is ! what he had to say:

MZ: What made you want to volunteer with the Normandale Campus Cupboard?

JG: Well the reason behind that is, basically I had three classes and each of them I needed to volunteer. Each one showed off the Campus Cupboard so I thought one volunteer service could handle all three classes. I did it right away (registered with Service Learning) and luckily I got into the top twenty spots.

MZ: What is the atmosphere like in the Cupboard (volunteer and volunteer as well as volunteer and people served)?

JG: Well typically the environment is we just sit around our little office space surrounded by tons of food. Its always tempting just to eat something. Its real fun though. The thing I like is working with the people. I have made a handful of friends already and I have also made a couple of friends through my Stress Management class I have seen them but I got to know them better. That was a real fun experience; we got to know each other better. Serving people there is a handful of people that just come in and say that they are really hungry and I am glad giving them food. We typically don’t judge people on whether they have money or not to go to the cafeteria. Its basically an honor system, we don’t question anything. Just give them food and they can go on their merry way.

MZ: In your own words what is the goal of this program?

JG: I would say the goal is to give out food to the needy. Other colleges have been interested in the Cupboard we have been getting phone calls saying how do you run this? Or what are your procedures? We are getting a little popularity serving the people’s hunger needs.

MZ: How do you gauge success? Is there anything else that makes the Cupboard successful?

JG: Well we provide friendly service to the people that come by, we give them food, we tell them to spread the word, we do everything in a clean manner. We are here to work and give our service to the people rather than feeding ourselves.

MZ: What has this experience done to help you relationship with other students? You mentioned it helped you make more friends, could you mention a little more about that?

JG: Evidently I have made more social interactions with other people in the Cupboard and outside like in our class for Communications I learn a handful of things like emotions and language. Definitely has helped, before that I didn’t talk to people, I was shy, quiet and I didn’t feel like getting into people’s business. No one’s perfect and I have seen that a lot of people struggle. I just give them any support I can.

MZ: In what ways does the Cupboard benefit you?

JG: Besides making new friends and talking to people just the volunteer service I think it’s a real fun thing even though I don’t get paid for it, it helps me learn more from the community. I know more about people and dedicating my time for others makes me feel good inside. That kind of experience has helped me decide my career. I will probably be doing something with the social working field.

MZ: Has this opportunity made you want to volunteer more?

JG: In a way like ever since this program I have been wanting to volunteer a bit more at my local church for example. Why not go occupy my time.

Miguel Zetina, Lions’ Roar Student Voice

*Photo altered to remove private information of the participant.

Who$is$It$Benefitting?$$

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The Campus Cupboard currently has approximately 7474 food items on hand. This is quite a large number, but each food item is counted individually, such as a single packet of oatmeal, or a granola bar. Some food items at the Cupboard go very fast, and others take a bit longer to be claimed by Normandale students. Phethile (Patty) Kunene, a student volunteer at the Campus Cupboard, has three things to say to students about the Campus Cupboard: “It’s available, it’s a free service, and it’s for them!”

I had the opportunity to interview two driven students at Normandale about their experience with the Campus Cupboard.

AW: How and when did you first hear about the Campus Cupboard?

Carmen*: I ran upon it. I had [come] from the gym one day, and had accidentally forgotten my little snacks and stuff I keep-­‐ I had forgotten everything. And sometimes my sugar drops low. And I’m walking by, and I see people there but I didn’t even go over there… I just walked by, no one said anything. And then, one day I was coming back by, and I see some guy signing something, and he’s getting what you call a granola bar, and I’m like, “Dang, I want one of those.” I didn’t bring my lunch again, I didn’t have any money on me, I just had money to get here. And I was like, “… I just need something just to hold me,” you know, before I go to gym. And I asked them “What are you doing?” And they told me, and I said “Oh, I can do this,” they said “Yeah,” I said “Oh, okay this is good. So it’s been a great benefit for me, I’m going to tell you, because between me budgeting my money, … it has [come] in handy, and it’s nutritional, depending on how you pick your meal it’s nutritional. Basically, I don’t want a meal, I just want something to hold me and keep my sugar level balanced. And… those three things I get do hold me. … And it really helps so much.

Wendy*: I was taking a nutrition class… and she [the teacher] was talking about the new Cupboard, so I just came out to see… it. My friend and I-­‐ we always come here.

AW: Was it hard to get qualified, or were there any challenges?

Carmen: No, it was very easy to get qualified. I was shocked. I was so excited ‘cause it was just: you do this, you do this, you give your student ID number, you put it in, and you’re done. I was like “This is the simplest thing.” …When I did tell someone about it, they were like “Oh. It’s too much paperwork.” And I said “No…”

Wendy: You need to get your ID... I think it was very easy.

AW: What is the actual experience of getting food like?

Carmen: Very friendly, very knowledgeable with the things they tell you, the staff there is very friendly.

Wendy: I think it’s a great feeling to come here [because] you know, I have those choices. For my health, and nutrition.

AW: What are the effects of having the food?

Wendy: I come here every time after class, before going to another class, I need to have something in my stomach… so I can focus after I eat. So this is the best thing to do; to come and eat before you go into class. … It definitely helps you to focus, for sure. I need to have food before I go to do anything else.

AW: What’s one thing you’d like to tell students here about the Cupboard?

Carmen: I would tell them: Don’t be ashamed because you don’t have. Go there, it’s beneficial if you need some energy, it’s something that gets you alert. Another thing is, it’s good to try and donate… not always taking away.

Wendy: … You shouldn’t be ashamed if you don’t have money, at least once or twice a week if you can come… and get some food. Don’t be ashamed of it. It’s healthy, and you have a lot of choices, and… stay focused in school.

*= Names changed for students’ privacy.

-­‐Amy Warwick, Lions’ Roar Student Voice