LBCC’s Basic Needs program held their monthly food bank at the Trades Tech and Community Learning Campus (formerly PCC) on Tuesday, providing students and community members with free groceries and resources for their holiday meals.
This grocery store takes place every fourth Tuesday of every month in parking Lot 1 at 1 p.m. on the TTC campus providing more than the standard goods that the Viking Vault gives.
With the holidays fast approaching, the Basic Needs program took it upon themselves to supply the Long Beach community with various canned foods and produce.
Maile Miller, an LBCC student who was in line to receive food, has an interest in agriculture and had heard about the event in passing on campus.
“When I heard about it I was like Thanksgiving is coming up and I definitely need food,” Miller said.
Miller emphasized the importance of the school providing food to students and their families right before the holidays.
“There’s obviously a lot of families here depending on this food,” Miller said in reference to the amount of families in line.
Long Beach mayor Rex Richardson made an appearance and helped hand out groceries to guests, as well as expressing the importance of providing food to the community to display this.
William Rodriguez was another LBCC student who came to the event to get holiday food with friends.
“I was so excited,” Rodriguez said when asked about the attendance of Mayor of Long Beach Rex Richardson.
Rodriguez went on to describe the importance of having a political figure on campus, sharing how big of an issue groceries may be to the community.
Rodriguez, along with friends Andres Felipe, Lina Sofia and Derek Harin Sanchez, gathered in line to obtain the goodies given by Basic Needs.
“Yes, we were getting food for Thanksgiving,” Rodriguez said.
Carl Kemp, executive director of public affairs and marketing helped to set up this grocery store.
“I try to leave the legacy of leaving the world a little bit better than how I found it,” says Kemp
While this is the last food bank of the year, Basic Needs will resume its monthly food bank in January.