A grab-and-go snack bar, non-perishables, fresh produce and frozen items are available at a food pantry inside the Connecticut State Housatonic campus.

The community college has made it a priority to address food insecurity amongst its students with a food pantry in its building.

What started in a closet-sized office on campus, expanded this fall semester to include freezers, stocked with meats and fresh groceries.

"We're not sending you home with just one box of these for a family," explained Frances Nieva, a student worker at the CT State Housatonic Food Pantry.

Setting the pantry in a private space on campus aims to break the stigma attached to using food pantries.

"Think about this, students are coming on campus, they haven't had breakfast. They come in, they can grab a fruit, they can grab a granola bar. And it's got to be better in class when your stomach has some food in it," said Sue Franco, coordinator of the CT State Housatonic Food Pantry.

They also plan to share recipe ideas and nutritional education to further empower students to make healthy, informed choices.

To sustain these efforts, the pantry requires around $80,000 annually. Partnerships with CT Foodshare and other providers have enabled the pantry to offer a wider range of fresh food options.