In an effort to support college students facing food insecurity, the Rotary Club of Long Beach (RCLB) will be accepting donations of nonperishable food and hygiene supplies from the public.
The donations will go to the food pantries of Long Beach City College (LBCC) and the University of California, Long Beach (CSULB).
Donations will be accepted by Rotarian volunteers at both campuses on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to noon in contactless drop-off locations.
“A few years ago, we began to support the food pantries of these two schools when we learned that one in four college students is food insecure,” RCLB President Dennis Smith said in a statement. “We’re hoping Long Beach residents will come out to our drive-through drop-off sites with canned and packaged donations as they have in the past.
Last spring, 4,500 meals were provided for students, Smith said in a statement, noting that they hope to collect just as much or more during the fall drive.
The Rotary Club’s “Feeding the Future” committee partnered with representatives of LBCC’s Viking Vault and CSULB’s Beach Pantry to identify the items most needed by students.
“Any and all donations will help the students who are struggling to make ends meet,” committee chair Leslie Wiberg said.
Items in the high-need list include: canned meats, canned vegetables, beans, rice, pasta and sauce, protein and granola bars, nuts, cookies, crackers, peanut butter, jam, dry cereal and oatmeal.
Other items needed include toothbrushes, hand sanitizer and shampoo. Grocery store gift cards can also be donated.
At the LBCC Carson campus, donations can be dropped off in the Clark Avenue parking lot north of Carson. At CSULB, donations will be received in lot E-2 on West Campus Drive between 7th Street and Beach Drive.
For more information, visit www.rotarylongbeach.org/feeding-the-future/
