By Amanda Sotelo
The United Way of South Texas has joined South Texas College in the fight against food insecurity among college students with a donation of $8,000, with all proceeds going to serve the college’s student food pantries.
STC has four student food pantries serving its Mid-Valley, Pecan, Technology and Starr County campuses, with a new one slated to open this spring at the Nursing and Allied Health campus.
All pantries serve current STC students and their families across Hidalgo and Starr Counties, and count on food purchased through local food banks and monetary donations to keep the pantries stocked.
“We just recently received a $10,000 donation from our STC Foundation, so to receive these additional funds was an unexpected surprise,” said Elibariki Nguma, director of Student Activities and Wellness. “Every donation is more food and resources for our pantries and that means more students can benefit from an expansion of our services. Our department’s overall goal is student engagement and retention, which means it is also our goal that no student goes hungry.”
United Way of South Texas President and Chief Executive Officer Lilly Lopez said for the last decade, the nonprofit has, annually, dedicated funds for student food pantries within rural school districts and educational systems in Hidalgo and Starr Counties.
The United Way is focused on investing in initiatives such as health and human service programs that address the needs of the community, and this donation is one way they can make measurable and lasting changes.
“Since COVID-19, many of the schools we supported with funds have not been able to reopen their pantries for one reason or another,” said Lopez. “We didn’t want the money to collect dust, so when we met with STC’s External Affairs office and heard about the college’s food pantries, I knew we could help.”
The funds donated to STC, were paid directly to the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, serving Hidalgo County and the South Texas Food Bank in Laredo, which serves Starr County.
“At STC, students are studying to create a better life for themselves and their families. At United Way, we understand that and so does our board. This is why these funds were approved for them,” said Lopez. “We believe in eliminating barriers. Everyone has the right to have access to food, and for students, food means they can focus on their studies and their futures.”
As longtime partners with United Way of South Texas, STC also collaborates with the organization to provide free tax services through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
STC Vice President of Foundation and External Affairs Rodney Rodriguez, Ph.D., said it is key partners like United Way that help STC continue in its mission of fighting food insecurity.
The food insecurity rate in Hidalgo County is 19%, 24% for Starr and 13% statewide. Therefore, STC’s food pantries serve hundreds of students each semester.
In spring 2024, more than 573, 379 and 27 students from Starr County, Pecan and Mid-Valley campuses, respectively, were served.
“Food insecurity is an exponentially growing rate in Hidalgo and Starr Counties. A lot of our students don’t have access to basic needs like food, and that is where we come in,” said Rodriguez. “We’re not only responsible for their education, but we’re also responsible in ensuring that our students have access to the resources they need to be successful. We’re grateful to our dedicated, longtime partner United Way, for supporting our students and our fight against hunger. Together, we’re changing lives.”
For more information on STC’s student food pantries, visit https://life.southtexascollege.edu/food-pantry/.
