Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Winter Volume 19 Issue 02 - Flipbook - Page 5
HELPING HANDS
to Fight Student Hunger
Ocean County College is strengthening
its commitment to student well-being
through several recent initiatives supporting the Helping Hands Food Pantry,
a vital resource for students facing food
insecurity. As student need continues to
rise, OCC is taking action both on campus
and in partnership with community allies.
This fall, OCC joined Feed the Future:
Fight Student Hunger, a statewide campaign to combat food insecurity at New
Jersey’s community colleges. Launched
during National Hunger Action Month, the
initiative is a partnership of New Jersey’s
Community Colleges, the Future Alumni
Support Team (FAST), and the New Jersey
Council of County Colleges (NJCCC). Data
from a recent Hope Center #RealCollege
survey of New Jersey community colleges found that 39% of student respondents were food insecure in the 30 days
prior to the survey, a figure that aligns
with national trends. Through Feed the
Future, donors can directly support OCC
via Spotfund.com, with all funds benefiting Helping Hands and other nutritionfocused programs.
Community partners are also joining the
effort to support students. The OceanFirst
Foundation recently awarded OCC a
$2,500 grant to enhance Helping Hands
and expand volunteer engagement. During
s
H
le ping Hand
OceanFirst Bank’s CommUNITYFirst Day
on September 25, OceanFirst and OCC
volunteers purchased groceries and
stocked the pantry, providing immediate
assistance to students at the start of the
fall semester.
“Our students are looking for our help now
more than ever,” said Michelle Youngs,
OCC’s assistant director of Student Life.
“Thanks to partners like OceanFirst, we’re
able to continue meeting this growing
demand.”
This holiday season demonstrated that
commitment in action. Through campus
food drives and collaboration, Helping
Hands volunteers assembled and distributed 55 Thanksgiving meal kits to students
and families in need. Nearly 1,000 donated
items helped fill the kits, each containing a
turkey, stuffing, instant mashed potatoes,
corn, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy,
and cornbread mix. An additional “extra
fixin’s” table offered more sides, desserts,
and options for students with dietary
restrictions, including gluten-free and
vegan items. The goal was to ensure families could enjoy a holiday meal together
without added financial stress.
Founded in 2018, Helping Hands
remains a cornerstone of OCC’s student support network, offering food,
essential items, and referrals to ensure
students have the resources they need
to thrive. For more information, visit
go.ocean.edu/HelpingHands.
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