Food baskets to help PBSC students during winter break
The Palm Beach State College Student Counseling Center and Panther’s Pantry teamed up to bring some extra cheer to students in need.
Baskets stuffed with nonperishable food and gift cards are being delivered to 46 students across the campuses before the winter break begins Dec. 17. The baskets are in addition to food items available to all PBSC students through Panther’s Pantry, which has locations at the Lake Worth, Palm Beach Gardens and Belle Glade campuses.
“This is one way of going the extra mile to ensure some of our most vulnerable students get the help they need,’’ said Robin Russo, director of student well-being, who organized the initiative. “We know that Panther’s Pantry will be closed during the winter break, and we don’t want any student to go hungry.”
Russo assembled the baskets with the help of five social work and mental health counseling students from Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach Atlantic University, who are completing internships in her office and concluding their master’s degree programs at their respective schools.
The baskets were funded by the Leslie Alexander Foundation with support from the Palm Beach County Food Bank, which provided the gift cards.
While the Panther’s Pantry will be closed during the winter break, students may still book an appointment to get food from the pantry before Dec. 17. During the winter break, however, they may get support at the Palm Beach County Food Bank or others. For a list of resources, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/panther-pantry.
