News Release

Immediate:  June 29, 2018

Nassau Community College Nest Food Pantry Members Named to SUNY’s Food Insecurity Task Force

Garden City, NY — The NEST Food Pantry at NCC has been identified by the New York State Governor’s office as a model site to which other campuses should look for guidance.  Nassau Community College faculty members Profs. Sharon Masrour, Valerie Fasanello and Helen Rice — all deeply involved in running The NEST — have been chosen by SUNY Albany to be members of the Food Insecurity Task Force.  Additionally, the three professors have been asked to take leadership positions as Co-chairs of the Task Force’s Campus Involvement Committee.  John Graham, who heads the Task Force in Albany, recognizes The NEST as an exemplar for supporting typically underserved members of our campus communities.

The State University of New York recently launched its Food Insecurity Task Force of higher education leaders and students from across the university system, along with experts in the fields of diet and nutrition, campus food service, financial aid, food waste prevention, and nutritional research, among others.  The group will build resources and support in alignment with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s "No Student Goes Hungry Program," a comprehensive program to provide all students with access to healthy, locally sourced meals from kindergarten to college.

Begun in fall 2013, The NEST at NCC distributes about 1,500 pounds of food, personal hygiene items, school supplies, baby items and household necessities every week during the academic year.  It’s open to all members of the campus community.  Funded entirely through donations, The NEST works closely with Island Harvest and LI Cares as well as other partnerships throughout the local community.  The NEST had approximately 2,100 guest visits this academic year (from September to May).  Volunteers from the College staff the pantry.  It plans to soon expand its services to offer clothing; the teaching of resume writing and interviewing skills; literacy workshops and many additional services.

For further information, please visit The NEST’s website: nestncc.weebly.com.

Media Contact
Kate Murray; kathleen.murray@ncc.edu; 516.572.0611
ncc.edu/newsreleases

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About Nassau Community College
Nassau Community College is an institution where more than 20,000 full-time, part-time, Workforce Development and continuing education students start and continue their successful journey through higher education. More than 70 fields of study are offered on a 225-acre campus located in the center of Long Island. As the largest single-campus two-year college in New York State, Nassau Community College maintains a national reputation for excellence. For more information, visit www.ncc.edu.