3 p.m. – Grand Traverse County (Drive Thru), NMC Front Street Campus Maple Parking Lot, 1701 E. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
Wondering how to stretch your budget this school year? Let NMC and Feeding America help! Free fresh foods, fruits, vegetables, and more are available to all students and their families through our grant funded Mobile Food Pantry program. The program will distribute goods twice monthly during the 2024–25 school year. ALL Students are able to use this program: there are no means tests or financial measures to participate.
The first mobile food pantry will be held on Monday, Sept. 9 from 3–5 p.m. Hop in the car line in the Maple Lot on the Front Street Campus and drive through the distribution loop. Food will be loaded into your trunk. All students and their families are encouraged to participate. Each recipient receives approximately 7–10 days of fresh fruit, produce, and other food stuffs on a first come, first serve basis.
No car? No problem! You’re welcome to “walk through” and receive goods in a carry-able way. Feel free to bring a backpack or other reusable bags!
As a college, we recognize that so many students live paycheck to paycheck. Our mobile food pantry is specifically designed for students to supplement income with fresh, healthy foods and free up limited funds to go towards other expenses.
Mobile food pantries at NMC are offered in conjunction with the NMC Foundation, grant funding from the Oleson Foundation, and a partnership with Feeding America West Michigan. Each pantry distribution brings up to 7,500 pounds of fresh food, supplying approximately 110 NMC students and their families with an infusion of $350–400 worth of food each month. For 2024–25, this program is expected to free up approximately $318,000 of value in the budgets of our students so that they can meet their other financial obligations.
The NMC Food Pantry offers a variety of programs and resources for NMC students, including a self-service “Hungry Owls” food pantry on campus, mobile pantries, Goodwill resource certificates, and seasonal grab-and-go fruit. Financial support and donations are appreciated and can be sent to the NMC Foundation with the designation “NMC Food Pantry”.
The NMC Pantry programs and Mobile Food Pantry will always need volunteers. Please contact Paul Kolak pkolak@nmc.edu to volunteer with the pantry program or Cathy Warner cwarner@nmc.edu to volunteer with the mobile food pantry program.