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Release Date: 
Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Hawks' Nest To Help Feed Needy Students

The Hawks' Nest is set up like a grocery store and provides food for needy students.
The Hawks' Nest is set up like a grocery store and provides food for needy students.

HFC recently opened an on-campus food pantry called the Hawks’ Nest, which represents a new College resource to help decrease food insecurity on campus by offering non-perishable food items to needy students.

The Hawks’ Nest is located in the Andrew A. Mazzara Administrative Services & Conference Center (ASCC) (Building L). Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. during the fall and winter semesters. HFC will post hours for the spring and summer semesters in the near future.

“Given our current economic times, some students on campus struggle to put food on the table or don’t know where their next meal is coming from. This food insecurity adds stress to the lives of students and creates a barrier to academic success. The purpose of the Hawks’ Nest is to counter that and ensure that our students don’t go hungry,” said Dr. Lisa Copprue, HFC vice president of Students Affairs.

To receive food from the Hawks’ Nest, students must be enrolled in at least one credit hour during the current semester at HFC and have a valid student ID card with photo. Students do not need to document their food needs.

Students will register during their first visit to the Hawks’ Nest by voluntarily completing a brief client intake form (CIF), which collects demographic information for statistical purposes. All demographic information is confidential. Registration will be valid for one academic year. Students must reregister to continue receiving food assistance in future academic years. Registered students will receive a Hawks’ Nest membership card with an assigned client number, which they must present during each visit.

Eligible students can visit the Hawks’ Nest once per week. The maximum amount of visits is four per month (once a week for four weeks). Students will select their food as if they were in a grocery store. A suggested list of food choices will be available upon request. Students will receive a reusable canvas bag during their first visit and are encouraged to reuse it for each subsequent visit. The Hawks’ Nest is intended to provide supplemental food assistance to students. A list of additional resources available in the community is available at the Hawks’ Nest.

To keep the Hawks’ Nest stocked, HFC will rely on donations from the HFC community. HFC will solicit non-perishable, non-expired food items, as well as toiletries and reusable canvas bags. Individuals who wish to donate these items may do so throughout the year during regular business hours or by appointment. The College plans to solicit monetary donations as well. For those who wish to donate via checks and money orders, please make them payable to the HFC Foundation. Individuals may submit these checks and money orders during the regular business hours for the Hawks’ Nest or by appointment.

Cash will not be accepted at the Hawks’ Nest nor will it be on the premises. Individuals who wish to make cash donations may do so in the offices of the HFC athletic director, student activities coordinator and Assisted Learning Center (ALC). Please make cash donations through normal HFC Foundation protocols (https://foundation.hfcc.edu/). Monetary donations are tax deductible and HFC will provide a receipt.

“I am excited that HFC is taking a stance on food insecurity by opening its on-campus student food pantry,” said HFC Student Harrison Shelby. “The Hawks’ Nest is designed to meet the immediate food needs of HFC students by providing a variety of non-perishable food items and personal care items to students at no cost. I am a public servant and I aspire to serve the public in any and every way I can. I love doing work in the community that aims to positively impact lives and solves problems in underserved communities. I am passionate about social justice issues that directly affect myself and my community. And as a student in HFC’s Community Leadership Program (CLP), I am honored to serve as the Hawks’ Nest team leader. I look forward to helping students,” he added.

For questions or further information about the Hawks’ Nest, contact HFC Athletic Director Rochelle Taylor at 313-317-4138 or rtaylor33@hfcc.edu.