TCC and the Foodbank announce the opening of the Portsmouth Campus Community Feed at TCC

Tidewater Community College and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore unveiled the Portsmouth Campus Community Feed at TCC during a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Portsmouth Campus site marks the partnership’s second location of The Community Feed — with the first opening at MacArthur Center in June 2020.

The Community Feed at TCC provides access to fresh fruits and vegetables; and as safety measures lift, will also bring individuals together to connect with one another over great food and conversation; share resources such as recipe cards, books and wellness materials; and participate in workshops and learning sessions led by strategic community partners addressing the root causes of food insecurity, which include lack of access to financial literacy, housing, employment, higher education and healthcare.

“We recognize that many of our students face food insecurity that affects not just themselves, but their family and ultimately, their studies,” said Dr. Marcia Conston, TCC President. “At TCC, we prioritize student success which includes helping our students identify and eliminate the barriers. The Community Feed at our Portsmouth Campus ensures that our students can receive meals, nonperishable foods, and fresh fruits and vegetables to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

The Community Feed at TCC program was launched with a $250,000 donation from TowneBank to the Foodbank in 2019 to establish up to four campus-based pantries that will serve TCC students. TowneBank is a long-time supporter of the Foodbank and has demonstrated a commitment to addressing community issues, including food insecurity among college students.

“The Foodbank is committed to closing the Meal Gap by 2025 and making measurable progress toward addressing the root causes of food insecurity, including limited access to higher education. We understand that education has a significant impact on an individual’s potential to earn a living wage and consistently put food on their table,” said Dr. Ruth Jones Nichols, President & CEO, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

TCC student Nicole Clarke visited the MacArthur location for first time this month. She was able to pick out produce, meats and some prepackaged meals. She also received a bike lock and a small piece of artwork for her home.

“I absolutely appreciate the Community Feed and I want to spread the word that there are resources out there and it’s for you,” Clarke said. “Go there and get the help you need. It’s the best feeling to be welcomed and served in this way.”

The Portsmouth Campus Community Feed at TCC is open to all TCC students with a valid student ID — with a long-term goal of opening the facility to the community. The Community Feed at TCC is currently available by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

First-time participants must register via the online enrollment form, and upon completion, utilize the online scheduling tool to select a time to pick up pre-packaged meal kits to prepare nutritious meals at home. Online reservations for pick-up are highly encouraged.

Food to Finish program

In addition, the Foodbank and TCC debuted the Food to Finish Program — an initiative to support students facing food insecurity, funded in part by a $20,000 donation from Virginia Natural Gas. The Food to Finish Program gives currently enrolled students access to fresh produce, meats and other groceries at the Community Feed at TCC locations, enabling them to save money for other necessities and to maintain their focus on academics. Students can receive up to 30 pounds of food each week. Students can apply on the online Food to Finish application form.

Student Resource and Empowerment Centers are now on every campus

TCC also launched the Student Resource and Empowerment Center (SREC), a Single Stop site that connects students with a variety of free and comprehensive social services and financial resources to help them stay focused on their academic goals. The college-wide initiative includes case managers on every TCC campus.

The Clothes Closet is just one offering in the new center.

These programs and resources are designed to work together to holistically address the needs of students, ultimately cultivating an environment in which students can focus on their studies and personal development.

“This resource center is the direct result of what happens when the staff dreams and rallies together around a shared vision of engaging our students in their own success and providing the support they need to get there,” said Jeanne Natali, director of the SREC. “Building on the strong foundation of the Women’s Center, this center opens its door today to help students navigate the complex web of campus and community resources.”

SREC case managers Melvilyn Scott and Sophia Tolliver.

More information about The Community Feed at TCC is available at www.FoodbankOnline.org/TheCommunityFeed. TCC students can receive help by emailing Chuck Thomas at cthomas@tcc.edu.

Additional information about the Student Resource and Empowerment Center is available by emailing Jeanne Natali at jnatali@tcc.edu.

TCC receives donation from UnitedHealthcare to support students in need

Tidewater Community College is the recipient of a $3,500 donation from UnitedHealthcare, which will help students facing food insecurity and other basic needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest health care insurance providers in the United States.

The donation will be used to provide food, toiletries, formula and diapers for students in need through the Community Feed at TCC in Norfolk.

TCC and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore partnered to open the food pantry in June of 2020.

“This sponsorship from UnitedHealthcare will provide for the basic needs for our students and their families,” said Jaedda Hall, program coordinator for intercultural learning and the Women’s Center. “The recent COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the needs of college students struggling to meet their basic needs.”

The pantry, made possible thanks to funding from TowneBank, is located across from the Apple Store on the second level of MacArthur Center. The Community Feed distributes meal kits and other fresh food to students with a TCC ID, as well as community members in need. Meal kits must be ordered in advance online.

Addressing food insecurity and other obstacles that impede student success continue to be priorities of TCC.

For information about the Community Feed at TCC and other support services available to TCC students during the pandemic, visit this resource page.

ABOUT TIDEWATER COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Founded in 1968, Tidewater Community College (www.tcc.edu) helps students of all ages and backgrounds achieve their educational and career goals. TCC is the largest provider of higher education and workforce solutions in southeastern Virginia, serving both students and local employers with in-demand academic and career programs. It is one of 23 schools that make up the Virginia Community College System.

ABOUT UNITEDHEALTHCARE

UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and making the health system work better for everyone by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. In the United States, UnitedHealthcare offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers, and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 1.3 million physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. The company also provides health benefits and delivers care to people through owned and operated health care facilities in South America. UnitedHealthcare is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified health care company. For more information, visit UnitedHealthcare at www.uhc.com or follow @UHC on Twitter.

The Community Feed at TCC expands to serve all community members

It’s been six months since the opening of The Community Feed at TCC at MacArthur Center in Norfolk. The innovative pantry is located on the second level across from the Apple store.

So far, more than 20,295 meals have been distributed to TCC students facing food insecurity. And last month, the pantry opened to serve all community members in need.

The project is a partnership of Tidewater Community College and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

Data released by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice estimates that 48 percent of community college students face food insecurity. And the needs have increased with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fresh food for families and individuals

The Community Feed at TCC offers a selection of assorted pantry boxes, including shelf-stable items, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, with ingredients designed to feed a family of four.

Information about ordering is available here. Food can be picked up by appointment only five days a week.

“The food always seemed to come right on time, and I was grateful to have the resource right near campus,” said student Renee Robinson. “There were meals and other produce items available every time. One week I was able to make eggplant parmesan and it was really good. I also make all kinds of salads with the fresh greens, onions, peppers, carrots and corn.”

Robinson added, “I appreciate that this service is here for us. We talk about it a lot among ourselves and are so grateful for the assistance. My family is eating good, quality food. What could be better than that?”

The overall vision of The Community Feed at TCC incorporates:

Connecting people with one another over quality food and conversation
Sharing resources that include recipe cards, books and wellness materials
Providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables
Workshops and learning sessions led by community partners on topics related to the root causes of food insecurity

Volunteers make a difference

The Community Feed is run by Foodbank staffers as well as volunteers that include faculty, staff, and students of TCC.

TCC staff member Chuck Thomas recalls a moment at the pantry that made him proud to be an employee of TCC.

“I saw a young couple with three toddlers come in to take advantage of the offerings. The father utilized the children’s play area while the mother shopped. She was able to get diapers, formula, toiletries, pre-packaged meals, and other items to feed her family,” said Thomas. “While she was there, we chatted about my experience of benefiting from food banks when I was young and the reason I was volunteering. Our conversation provided her comfort and brought tears to her eyes and she promised to pay it forward just as I was doing.”

Business Administration faculty member Kelly Gillerlain also volunteers at The Community Feed. “This is a great way to give back to our students,” she said. “It shows students we care about them and gives them additional support to succeed. I have also had the great honor to get to know some of my students outside the classroom.”

Raven Hayut, a TCC student ambassador, also serves regularly to complete volunteer hours for her scholarship. “This place has given me such a different perspective on what it means to help others and doing it in a way that you are surrounded by plenty of great people while serving.”

Initiative funded by TowneBank for five years

Thanks to a grant provided by TowneBank, the Foodbank will be able to launch additional campus-based pantries, as well as a targeted nutrition assistance program for students most at-risk of hunger. The total funds of $250,000 will be utilized to support this work over the course of five years, which will ultimately serve community members as well as thousands of students who are building upon their education to begin living wage careers.

The Campus-Based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program began in the fall of 2019 with pop-up pantries on the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses. Pop-up pantries continue to be offered and have quickly became a lifeline for many students.

Learn more

More information about The Community Feed at TCC is available at FoodbankOnline.org. For questions, email Dean Thomas E. Chatman, Jr. or Dean Kerry Ragno.

TCC and the Foodbank partner to open The Community Feed at TCC

Step inside The Community Feed at Tidewater Community College and you’ll see artfully designed spaces that promote healthy eating. On display in the farmer’s market are an assortment of fresh vegetables —tomatoes, carrots, peppers, asparagus, greens, potatoes, apples and even bulbs of garlic.

A front counter features a colorful sign to welcome TCC students, as they pick-up pre-ordered meal kits that will feed a family of four.

Participating in the ceremonial snip are (left-right) Jim Walker, general manager, MacArthur Center; Emanuel Chestnut, provost, TCC’s Norfolk Campus; TCC President Marcia Conston; Foodbank President Ruth Jones Nichols; Kevin Jones, board chair of the Foodbank; and John Baiocco, president of TowneBank Norfolk.

“This is wonderful. This is really a president’s dream!” said TCC President Marcia Conston at the ribbon-cutting event on June 29 for the Community Feed at TCC, the first food pantry to open thanks to the partnership between Tidewater Community College and The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and The Eastern Shore.

The pantry, made possible due to a $250,000 donation from TowneBank, is located across from the Apple Store on the second level of Norfolk’s MacArthur Center.

“We are prioritizing student success at TCC because, simply put, if students are hungry, they can’t succeed,” President Conston said.

President Conston with Ruth Jones Nichols — President Conston with Ruth Jones Nichois inside The Community Feed at TCC.

In the fall of 2019, Glenn Dubois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, urged community college leaders to address food insecurity among students.

Data released by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice estimates that 48 percent of community college students face food insecurity. The survey was sent to 1.5 million students and 86,000 responded.

The Community Feed at TCC will begin distributing meal kits to students with TCC ID cards on June 30; they must be ordered in advance online. Student can select two meal kits, each designed to feed a family of four. Three options are available each week including a vegetarian dish. To ensure the safety of all students due to COVID -19, employees and volunteers, social distancing will be followed.

The overall vision of The Community Feed at TCC incorporates:

Connecting people with one another over quality food and conversation
Sharing resources that include recipe cards, books and wellness materials
Providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables
Workshops and learning sessions led by community partners on topics related to the root causes of food insecurity

The Campus-Based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program began last fall with pop-up pantries on the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses. These quickly became a lifeline for many students.

“The food always seemed to come right on time, and I was grateful to have the resource right on campus,” said student Renee Robinson. “There were meals and other produce items available every time. One week I was able to make eggplant parmesan, and it was really good. I also make all kinds of salads with the fresh greens, onions, peppers, carrots and corn.”

The Farmer’s Market inside The Community Feed at TCC.

“For many students, access to healthy food is a building block for successfully completing their education and moving toward living wage positions,” said Ruth Jones Nichols, president and CEO of the local Foodbank. “We know that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, 37 percent of households were choosing between food and educational expenses. The Foodbank is committed to working with strategic partners like TCC to leverage food security as a foundation upon which to build a more transformational model for creating multiple pathways to success in life.”

The Community Feed at TCC — open to all TCC students with a valid student ID — has a long-term goal of opening to the community. For now, the pantry is available by appointment two days a week. As Virginia continues its phased approach to re-opening following the COVID-19 pandemic, The Community Feed at TCC will extend hours of operation to accommodate more students.

“Building stronger communities is a cornerstone of TowneBank’s philosophy, and this partnership with the Foodbank and TCC strategically aligns with our commitment to serving and enriching the lives of others,” said John Baiocco, president of TowneBank Norfolk.

The space at MacArthur Center was designed by TCC alumna Leisa Arrington.

The Community Feed at TCC was designed by Leisa Arrington, a TCC interior design alumna. Arrington also has a business degree from the college and owns and manages her firm, Proverbial Interior Design Solutions, LLC.

More information about The Community Feed at TCC is available at FoodbankOnline.org. For questions, email Dean Thomas E. Chatman, Jr. or Dean Kerry Ragno.

The space includes areas to gather for good food and conversations.

A Top 10 look at a year to remember at TCC

A new president, a professor gone viral and a celebration of generous donors and collaborative partnerships are among a year of highlights for Tidewater Community College in 2019.

Check out our TCC Top 10 list of storylines that made a mark.

10. The college’s Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses celebrated their first-generation students, faculty and administrators in events held in early November. The days were selected to coincide with the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965.

Celebrating first-generation college students.

9. Thanks to a partnership between TCC and Chesapeake Public Schools, 52 high school graduates earned career and technical training credentials during May commencement in areas that range from mechatronics to pharmacy technology to welding.

8. TCC received a fifth federal grant to help train military veterans and their spouses for careers in trucking. The grant, administered by the college’s Center for Military and Veterans Education, allows veterans to train for in-demand careers at no cost to them.

7. A partnership among TCC, Hampton Roads Transit and Norfolk Now to prepare Hampton Roads residents for careers as bus operators launched in May and graduated its inaugural class in the fall. A second cohort is under way.

6. Mayor Rick West joined the Nov. 18 celebration for the opening of the new robotics lab on the Chesapeake Campus. The lab contains six state-of-the-art Fuji Automatic Numerical Control robots and training stations.

5. TCC will continue to grow in the next decade thanks to several generous donors. The TCC Perry Center for Visual & Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management received a major gift from philanthropist Jim Hixon. A $500,000 grant from TowneBank will also benefit the TCC Perry Center and help expand the Regional Automotive Center. The Hampton Roads Community Foundation gave the TCC Perry Center a $500,000 grant spread over five years. Stanley Black & Decker earned the Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy for its support of the Skilled Trades Academy. Black & Decker donated $275,000 in new industry tools and equipment, the biggest in-kind investment by the company ever in the commonwealth. The SunTrust Foundation’s $75,000 grant will support the Skilled Trades Academy. Builders & Contractors Exchange funded $5,000 in scholarships for the academy. The Don Carey REECH Foundation also gifted TCC’s Women’s Center STEM Promise Program with $2,500.

Jim Hixon provided a generous gift for the TCC Perry Center.

4. It’s never been easier to transfer from TCC to Old Dominion University or Virginia Wesleyan University. The Guaranteed Transfer Partnership Agreement, signed in September, ensures a seamless transfer to ODU for TCC graduates. The Fair Transfer Guarantee Agreement between VWU and TCC allows graduates who earn arts or science associate degrees to enter VWU as juniors.

3. TCC put into action plans to eliminate food insecurity among its students. The college and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are new partners in a five-year initiative to eliminate the food insecurity that impedes many TCC students from completing their higher education. TowneBank’s $250,000 donation will go toward the food. A Campus-Based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program are in the works and a mobile pantry on the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses started in the fall. In addition, a partnership between the Virginia Beach Campus and the city’s Department of Human Services gives TCC counselors and advisers a streamlined way to refer Virginia Beach students to the resources they need. Students can receive food, mental health counseling and housing support.

Physics Professor David Wright went viral.

2. Student Erica Church’s tweet on the animated teaching style of Professor David Wright made a big bang. The viral post, viewed by more than 30 million people, created headlines around the world and led to the beloved physics professor granting interviews to Yahoo, the BBC, NPR and Good Morning America. He and students Church and Kierra Brothers will appear on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” on Jan. 26.

1. Welcome, President Conston! The college’s sixth permanent president, hired Oct. 15, assumed the role on Jan. 6, 2020.

Thanksgiving comes early to the Portsmouth Campus

Thanksgiving came a week early at Tidewater Community College’s Portsmouth Campus with a pop-up market full of everyone’s favorites for the holidays.

Students took home overflowing bags of staples, including – collard greens and apples, sweet and white potatoes, onions, stuffing, apple sauce, mac cheese and even fresh poultry. Food was supplied by the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, a new partner in an initiative with TCC to eliminate food insecurity among college students. TowneBank donated $250,000 toward what is a five-year plan.

Student Miciah Owens took part in the pop-up market on the Portsmouth Campus.

The pop-up market is one of several scheduled for the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses. A campus-based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program will open in both student centers in 2020. Qualifying students will be able to access a consistent source of food as long as they continue to pursue their TCC degree or certificate.

But Wednesday’s pop-up market only required students to show their TCC ID; all were welcome.

“Having all this fresh fruit and vegetables is amazing,” said Jordan Robinson, one of an army of students lugging several bags to the parking lot.

Fresh foods were part of the fare at the Portsmouth Campus pop-up market

Some students talked about using the food for tonight’s supper. Others said they will save the food to prepare a healthy Thanksgiving meal for their families.

Michelle Woodhouse, provost of the Portsmouth Campus, said when life happens – bills and tuition payments are due and unexpected expenses arise – students have to sacrifice something and often it’s their next meal. Pride often forces them to remain hungry rather than seek assistance. Grades plummet and some students are forced to drop out.

Tackling the stigma that interferes with asking for help is one of the reasons she wanted this pop-up market to be inclusive.

“We wanted to create this themed event around Thanksgiving,” she said. “We want to bring happiness to students and give them something positive around the holidays.”

Volunteers from the Foodbank teamed with TCC students and staff to assist with distribution.

As students passed through the line on the crisp fall afternoon, they juggled their knapsacks with multiple bags of food. They couldn’t say thank you enough in response to:

“Fresh greens?”

“How about another bag of carrots?

“Would you like a chicken?”

“For a lot of people, this is their only food,” said student Yvette Funney, mother to four children. “I’ve got chicken, potatoes, collard greens, vegetables. This is all such a blessing.”

The Portsmouth Campus will host additional pop-up markets from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Dec 3 and Jan. 29, 2020.

The Norfolk Campus will host pop-up markets from 11:30 p.m. until 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 and Jan. 23, 2020.

TCC partners with the Foodbank to help students in need

Tidewater Community College and the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore are new partners in a five-year initiative to eliminate the food insecurity that impedes many TCC students from completing their higher education.

The Campus-Based Pantry and Food Scholarship Program will begin at TCC this fall with a mobile pantry on the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses.

The Foodbank will provide the food needed to implement the program and benefit from a $250,000 gift toward that effort from TowneBank. The donation was presented during a food insecurity awareness event at the Slover Library in Norfolk.

“The Foodbank’s partnership with Tidewater Community College is quite unique,” said John Baiocco, president of TowneBank Norfolk. “It’s actually bringing together the expertise of the Foodbank and addressing a need that will help the community and the students at TCC.”

Mobile Pantry Program distributions will take place once a month at each campus and will consist of produce, donated product such as bread and lean protein, and some shelf-stable items.

The Foodbank will provide food for up to 150 households at each distribution. Each household will receive items to feed a family of four.

In 2020, TCC will establish a campus pantry available to all students. An additional program will benefit a specific group of students, selected by TCC, who are identified as food-insecure. The food scholarship program will provide qualifying students with a consistent source of food as long as they continue to pursue their TCC degree or certificate. The Foodbank Mobile Pantry will continue to be available on one campus.

In 2021 a second onsite pantry will open at a TCC campus. In years four and five, the program will either expand to the Virginia Beach and/or Chesapeake campuses or expand participation in the scholarship program on the Norfolk and Portsmouth campuses.

“I’m seeing an increase in poverty, homelessness and hunger among our students,” said Michelle Woodhouse, provost of the Portsmouth Campus. “It’s rampant. We wanted to do something to help. This is one avenue we can combat to keep students from dropping out.”

According to Wisconsin HOPE Lab, whose recent survey gleaned insights from 43,000 students at 66 two-year and four-year colleges in 20 states, student hunger is a major challenge. The organization reported that 42% of community college students experience food insecurity, meaning they were unsure about the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially acceptable manner.

Last fall, Glenn Dubois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges, urged community college leaders to address the problem. More than half of the 23 colleges are operating some form of a food pantry.

“For me, this is a game-changer,” said Emanuel Chestnut, interim provost on the Norfolk Campus. “So many of our students are suffering in silence and struggling to meet their most basic needs. This is about the whole person and finding every way to support our students so they can go out and be successful and then pay it forward.”

“We’re grateful to the Foodbank and TowneBank for supporting this initiative,” Chestnut said. “We are beyond excited to get things moving.”