POCAHONTAS, Ark. (KAIT) – From pasta to dress shoes, Black River Technical College is making sure its students have everything they need on a regular basis.
The Pantry Food and Clothing Closet gives those students who can’t know where their next meal is coming from somewhere to go.
The pantry opened in 2016 with this goal in mind.
Dietetics instructor Christina Derbes, who also oversees the pantry, said food insecurity is a problem close to her heart.
“As a kid, I grew up where the pantry was something my family had to use,” he said. “So I’m exactly what some of these kids are going through, and I’m so happy with my background that I can make that happen.”
There is no income control to take food out of the pantry. Derbes just asks students about dietary restrictions and fills a box with enough meals for a family of four to last about four days.
When Derbes and other instructors opened the food pantry, they noticed that there was another need to help students who were trying to enter the workforce. That’s when they decided to start picking up clothes
“If they have a job interview to go to, but they don’t have the right dress, then they can come in and choose a dress,” she said. “We have shoes, we have some jewelry even for women.”
The pantry consists only of donations from staff and people around the community, and Derbes said he likes being able to influence a student’s life.
“Whether it’s helping with food or helping you get a nice dress to go to that job interview in order to get that job, it’s wonderful,” she said.
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