Luzerne County Community College is working toward ending hunger among its students. From March 11 through 22, the campus and its seven centers will be collecting food donations from the community that will be used at its student food banks the College has at each location.
People who are interested in donating can drop off items at LCCC's Campus Center at the main campus in Nanticoke at 521 Trailblazer Drive and at the College's seven centers, see list below. They can also donate through LCCC's Food Bank Amazon Wish List by calling (570) 740-0735.
"We're urging the public to donate to this important cause, which helps students who are facing food insecurity," said LCCC President Thomas P. Leary. "Our students are always our top priority, so we want to make sure they have the necessary resources to succeed. Research shows there's a connection between hunger and negative school performance. Our food banks and the generous donations we receive ensure our students can succeed in the classroom so they can get their education and be successful in their local job markets."
LCCC is holding the food drive in conjunction with National Nutrition Month. A recent study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health showed that food-insecure students were more than 40 percent less likely to graduate college.
The College created the Peter J. Lello Student Food Bank at the main campus in Nanticoke in 2016 and has opened other food banks at all other centers over the years to help fight food insecurity. The food bank was named after the late Lello, who devoted his life to charitable causes including addressing hunger issues. Lello joined the staff at LCCC in 2006 as a major gifts officer and planning giving specialist and was instrumental in raising money for the Public Safety Training Institute, the Joseph A. Paglianite Culinary Institute, and the Francis and Mary Gill Carrozza, RN, Health Science Center.
"The mission of the College's Student Food Banks is to work to eliminate hunger and food insecurities among our students and their families," said Rebecca Brominski, Executive Director, LCCC Foundation. "Food drives like this one will support and feed hundreds of LCCC students and their families throughout the year."
Students use LCCC's food banks regularly and can get ready-made, to-go items or take-home food that they can make later. Kevin Lloyd, LCCC student, said the food bank is vital to the student community because it ensures there is food for those who may need it.
"Having something to eat helps us focus in class so we can do well academically," Lloyd said. "It's hard to focus when you're hungry. For students who may not be able to afford a lot of food, our food bank ensures that you have access to something nutritious to eat instead of going hungry."
The following are the drop off locations for the food drive:
- Main campus in Nanticoke at 521 Trailblazer Drive
- Wilkes-Barre Center at 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre
- Berwick Center at the Eagles Building, 107 S. Market St., Berwick
- Hazleton Center at 100 W. Broad St., Suite 108, Hazleton
- Pittston Center at Education Center, 13 S. Main St., Pittston
- Scranton Center at the Marketplace at Steamtown, 300 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton
- Shamokin Center at the Northumberland Regional Higher Education Center, 2 E. Arch St., Shamokin
- Watsontown Center at the Greater Susquehanna Center, 1100 Main St., Watsontown
