Taking classes and getting great grades at a community college may be challenging for some students in and of itself, but what if students have food insecurities on top of that?
One local community college has found a solution to help meet the basic nutritional needs of its students. Los Medanos College (LMC) named that solution the LMC Marketplace. Since opening its doors in 2017, LMC Marketplace has been a free, on-campus food pantry and program at LMC’s Pittsburg campus (its other campus is in Brentwood), in a brown portable building near the Child Study Center and Los Medanon Lake.
It’s also for all students, created to meet their basic needs by providing free supplemental groceries to include meat, cheese, eggs, fruit snacks, canned goods and infant formula. Students can also find other essentials such as clothing, hygiene products and school supplies.
“We know so many of our students are also balancing the demands of work and family,” said A’kilah Smith, LMC’s vice president of instruction. “We want to do everything we can to make sure they are strong enough and healthy enough to persist and succeed. We love when our community participates through giving, and we often find our own students and faculty donating goods, repurposing items and giving back.”
Many benefit from the free store on campus and on any given day, staff members who run the marketplace assist 30 to 60 shoppers.
“Sometimes we have students come over after class as a group,” said Megela Ohare, LMC’s student life basic needs coordinator since 2022.
LMC student Tashianna Brown, a behavioral science and social sciences major, says she has used the marketplace since it opened.
“The resources they had back then were limited to what they have now,” she said. “When I do go to the marketplace, I tend to get food for my home, snacks before class, hygiene products that are good for my skin texture and clothing that they have for students. Since going to the marketplace, I’ve saved money on everything so I can feel stable for now while attending my classes.”
Edgar Sanchez, a third-year LMC student majoring in computer science and mathematics, is also the LMC Marketplace ambassador, whose role is to bridge the gap between students and the resources on- and off-campus. He said it includes promoting all the student services provided by the state and college, including CalFresh, the Basic Needs Center, the Crisis Text Line, TimelyCare and low-cost auto insurance.
“So far in my year of being an ambassador, I’ve done a lot of in-person and online marketing to promote these resources by planning community events and our Instagram media posts at lmcstudentlife (instagram.com/lmcstudentlife),” he said. “What I love most about being an ambassador is being able to confidently help and guide students to the resources they need when they come up to me for help.”
Sanchez also said that so far this year, “with the help of the amazing (LMC) Marketplace team, we’ve planned a lot of ‘Basic Needs’ events like World Mental Health Day, a Thanksgiving basket distribution, a free clothing market, CalFresh workshops, CalFresh Outreach Week, the hygiene drive, the Caring Campus event, TimelyCare promotions and more.”
The LMC Marketplace has certain clothing donation requirements.
“We accept clothing items for all ages,” said Basic Needs Coordinator Ohare “They could be professional or casual. They must clean (washed) and in good condition — no rips, stains or tears. They can be dropped at the LMC Marketplace during our operating hours.”
The LMC Marketplace was first named the “LMC Pantry,” but staff felt a name change was necessary.
“As I was told by the hiring manager, the name was changed to reduce the stigma about the word ‘pantry’ and to be more inclusive and inviting, as the ‘marketplace’ is free to all students and is a concept that everyone is familiar with,” said Ohare. “The LMC Marketplace is currently modeled after a supermarket. Shoppers verify they are currently enrolled, grab a basket and take the items they need off the shelf. Once completed, they check out at our checkout table, where we bag their items while talking with them about any upcoming events and other resources we have available.”
Ohare says she’s had countless memorable experiences over the years with the participants in this free program but that one stands out the most.
“I was sought out by a student during his graduation,” she said. “He couldn’t graduate without saying ‘thank you’ to me. I was shocked to hear how the resources we provided helped him get through the semester.
“From the snacks he ate while using a study room in the Student Union to participating in our de-stress activities or just being a constant welcoming face, we were a big support in helping this student accomplish his academic goal. Hearing this really made my day and is only one of many statements of appreciation that I and the student associates I work with have received from the students we support.”
LMC Marketplace is also stocked by the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano (counties), from which they receive perishable and nonperishable items. For Ohare, food pantries are vital.
“Food pantries provide food resources to those in need on an urgent, as-needed basis. However, they’re more than just food distributions sites,” she said. “No matter how food pantry visitors walk into the food pantries, they leave knowing that others in the community care about their well-being and are willing to give of their time and resources to support their needs.
“That’s how I feel when I go the food bank remote distribution to pick up items for the Marketplace. It is nice to see everyone coming together from different organizations and different backgrounds to unite to fight against food insecurity and care for the most vulnerable in our community. It is truly amazing.”
The LMC Marketplace is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Their number is 925-473-7411, and students can call Ohare directly at 925-473-7412. Visit losmedanos.edu/basicneeds/contact.aspx online for more details.
Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at charleenbearley@gmail.com or 925-383-3072.