GCC Cares and is Doing Something About it!

Collection for Winter Clothing and Food Bank Earns an Apple for All!

Batavia, NY (10/18/2018) — Leaves are falling and so are temperatures! While the fall colors are beautiful and the cool autumn breeze is refreshing after a hot summer, for many people in our community, winter brings on special challenges related to basic human needs - food and proper clothing. Over the coming months, local food pantries, including GCC's Food Pantry, experience a substantial increase in demand including many students finding themselves ill prepared for the bone chilling temperatures.

With a long history of providing a free Food Pantry to students in need, the College community is expanding its collection efforts this month. In addition to perishable and nonperishable foods and personal hygiene items, College employees and some generous students are seeking donations of new or gently worn jackets, hats, gloves, scarves and other clothing essential for surviving a Western New York winter. In particular, the College's population of international students, many who have never experienced snow, are in need of winter wear.

The dual collection is inspired, in part, by the upcoming National Food Day, scheduled on October 24, 2018 which coincides with the annual "New York Campus Crunch." GCC's Sustainability Committee, along with student clubs and various departments are banning together resources to collect food and winter clothing donations on Wednesday, October 24, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations will be collected in the Forum at GCC's Batavia Campus at One College Road.

In clever exchange, everyone who makes any donation will receive a fresh, free, locally-grown apple in recognition of the "New York Campus Crunch" effort. This statewide initiative inspires many private and State University of New York and colleges and universities to simultaneously bite into an apple. The action is symbolic of a commitment to food that is healthy for people and the planet. Participants are encouraged to post photographs of their shared "crunch" on social media.

Community members can also donate food or winter clothing at the following GCC campus centers:

• Albion Campus Center - 456 West Ave, Albion
• Dansville Campus Center - 31 Clara Barton Street, Dansville
• Lima Campus Center - 7285 Gale Road, Lima
• Medina Campus Center - 11470 Maple Ridge Road, Medina

Donations are also accepted through the month of October as follows:

• Winter Wear at the Dean of Students Office in C209
• Food and personal hygiene items at the AEOC Office in D206.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

A photograph of a prior Campus Crunch, courtesy of GCC, is available at:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/CampusCrunch.jpg

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