Grossmont College announced a new partnership with San Diego-based nonprofit Kitchens for Good to provide free fresh meals to students each week. The East County community college is the first to become a Project Nourish College partner, with its first distribution taking place from noon-2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29.

 

“We know that the pandemic has deeply affected community college students’ families and their livelihoods. From rent to food, many of our students are having a difficult time making ends meet,” said Marsha Gable, Grossmont College Vice President of Student Services. “We hope that this new partnership can help provide some relief to our students so that they can continue to transform their lives through education.”

 

Each Thursday this fall semester, staff and faculty volunteers with Gizmo’s Kitchen, the college’s student pantry, will help distribute fresh meals prepared by Kitchens for Good that can be reheated at a later time. To qualify, students must be currently enrolled and register in advance online. While these meals are not suitable for families, organizers hope that the meals will help students stretch their food budgets each week. The college initially plans to distribute meals to 60 students each week, with students required to sign up and qualify prior to each week’s distribution event.

 

Since classes started in late August, Gizmo’s Kitchen has partnered with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank on monthly distributions of fresh and non-perishable foods. In September, the event provided food for 175 students; the October event supported 200 students. Additional monthly distributions are already scheduled for November and December; students must also register in advance for these distributions. Prior to COVID-19, Gizmo’s Kitchen provided thousands of students annually with individual grab-and-go bags of non-perishable foods and coordinated Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank-sponsored campus food distributions.