Karen Jack, BC3's director of the Keystone Education Yields Success program, stands near a grab 'n go food rack at her office on campus. The college has been offering food to food-insecure students, staff and their families since a 2018 survey found that 40% of students do not have enough food.

When officials at Butler County Community College found out in 2018 that 40% of students were food insecure, they immediately went to work to provide sustenance to those in the school who needed it.

Two years later, the BC3's Pioneer Pantry is a rousing success with many partners.

Karen Jack, BC3's director of Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) program, said it was untenable that students, their families and even some staff were going to bed without dinner or did not know where their next meal would come from.

“If they don't have nutritious meals on a daily basis, it starts to wear them down, and it can impact the rest of their lives,” Jack said.

Alliance for Nonprofit Resources (ANR) in Butler donates spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, cereal, noodles, macaroni and cheese and other nonperishables each month, plus taco meat, shredded and block cheese and holiday meal items.

Students and staff also donate food in barrels set up around campus, Jack said.

Students must meet ANR eligibility requirements to access food in the pantry, Jack said.

Jack said a “grab 'n go” rack in her office also allows students to pick up a snack, such as peanut butter crackers, or a small meal — for example, oatmeal or macaroni and cheese — as they navigate their school day.

“They're things they can have quickly in between classes,” she said.

Groups such as Rotary and other businesses and organizations, as well as individuals, regularly donate food or money for the pantry.

“It's just amazing,” Jack said, “especially this year because of COVID-19. Everyone came out and said, 'How can we help, and what can we do?'”

Those who would like to donate to the Pioneer Pantry fund can do so by logging onto bc3.edu and then clicking on the Pioneer Pantry page.

Jack said the foundation received $4,000 in donations for the pantry in 2020, which went on to feed an average of 54 individuals.

Many BC3 employees also designate their annual campaign donations to the food pantry, she said.

“We've helped so many people, and we're so grateful,” Jack said.