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The Linn-Benton Lunch Box

Ryan Henson
The Commuter

Friday, October 2, 2009

Jessica Calhoun stands near the stockpiled food. Photo by Max Brown

For some students, the times are tough and nourishment can be hard to come by.

LBCC’s Student Life and Leadership Office helps those students and their families by providing emergency food assistance through the Linn-Benton Lunch Box

According to Jessica Calhoun, ambassador of Goodworks, an extension of SL&L that helps students find volunteer opportunities within the community, students in need can come to the SL&L office, where they will receive emergency rations for three days. Each student can use the service up to three times a term.

“For each kid, we give them one meal for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If that means 18 meals, then we will give them 18 meals,” said Calhoun. “ But, if they are in dire need, we can give them more.”

Calhoun emphasized that it did not matter how many family members a student needed food for.

The food, which is non-perishable canned, boxed, and bagged products, including baby formula, comes from donation boxes at Student Programming Board events, food drives held in other departments, and The First Congregational Church of Corvallis, which donates food every week.

So far, the program, which began in January of this year, has been a success, and this term is no different.

“We’ve had a ton of people,” said Calhoun. “I’ve personally helped five people already, and I only worked three days this week.”

Donna Reishus, a former Americorp member who worked as coordinator for learning and civic engagement, a volunteer position with SL&L, conceived the LBLB.

“While I was working here (SL&L), I noticed that kids would come in every once in awhile looking for food because they were hungry,” said Reishus. “So, that sort of gave me the idea that we needed to formalize something so that we would have food available for students, especially as the economy started getting bad.”

Reishus says that, before her, other people tried to get emergency food for students, but past college administrations where not in favor of the idea.

According to Calhoun, there are no requirements or qualifications needed to receive the service, and that the only thing asked for is the last four digits of the student’s “X” number. This is just to track how many times the students have used the service.

“Unfortunately, some people take advantage,” Calhoun said.

In addition to the food, each box contains information about obtaining food stamps and a directory of community services in Linn and Benton counties.

For students or staff who would like to contribute, Calhoun says there are a number of ways to help, including the referral of any students who are in urgent need of food, the donation of food or coupons from food services at LBCC, or by holding a food drive within their department.

For more information, contact Jessica Calhoun at (541)-917-4469 or send her a message at WORKSG@linnbenton.edu

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