Delta Alpha Pi, an honors society that recognizes high-achieving students with disabilities, is collecting food donations to reduce students’ hunger at Long Beach City College.
The collected food will be submitted to the Viking Vaults, a service that provides a daily snack to students, which can be found at Student Health Services.
Delta Alpha Pi will be at both the LAC and PCC quads every Monday beginning October 7th until December 2nd, from 1-2 p.m.
Any non-perishable snack can be donated, such as protein, granola bars or noodle bowls.
“A lot of students may not say it, but they are in need. A lot of students are struggling for housing while still part of our campus and going to our school,” Delta Alpha Pi adviser and Disability Support Specialist Valinda Intarattana said.
“Many need to choose between buying a scantron and food. Our club members brought this to me, and said ‘what can we do?’
In April 2019, Inside Higher Ed published a study conducted by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, it found among 86,000 students surveyed across 123 schools, 48% of community college students and 48% of university students are food insecure.
In the past LBCC has held events such as Better Breakfast Day and implemented programs like CalFresh, to assist struggling students.
Delta Alpha Pi’s initiative to tackle food insecurity began a couple semesters ago.
Intarattana also stated that Student Health Services has seen an increase in donations since the fliers were created.
Octavio Alcantar, a club member and second-year student at LBCC, expressed his excitement.
“I’ve always looked for a place to help out. Viking Vaults is one way to make sure we’re all taken care of,” Alcantar said.
Sheree Guillory, a member of Delta Alpha Pi, spoke about her hopes for an increase in food donations this semester.
“It was new for a lot of students. We didn’t really know what to do,” said Guillory regarding donations from last semester.
This year Delta Alpha Pi sought to increase awareness for their cause by placing fliers around school, along with word of mouth proves promising, according to Guillory.
“It’s not just a student thing, it’s a community thing. It means a lot to be able to help.”