The Viking Food Pantry will hold a curbside food pickup at Del Mar College’s Windward Campus just before the Thanksgiving break.
The event will be held in the Workforce Development Center parking lot on Airport Road from 1-3 p.m. Nov. 19.
According to Rita Hernandez, interim dean of Student Engagement and Retention, a registration link will be sent out via email and social media.
“This is going to be for students, staff and faculty; anyone who finds themselves in need of groceries are eligible,” Hernandez said. “We won’t be turning anyone away.”
The Student Government Association will also be spreading the word through some of their online virtual meetings and events.
The event will be run by volunteers who will help distribute the food.
“We did a call up for volunteers to our student clubs and organizations,” Hernandez said. “So far we have 40 volunteers from different student organizations on campus as well as staff to load the food in people’s cars.”
Those attending the drive-through event will be encouraged to stay in their vehicle as volunteers load the food in their cars.
People are being asked to pre-register to ensure one of the 400 spots is available to them. Once pre-registered, they will receive a QR code that the Coastal Bend Food Bank will use to check them in. Once checked in, they will be instructed to pop their trunks to have their food loaded in, according to Hernandez.
Travis Collingsworth, director of the food pantry, said that although there will be 400 pre-registered spots, if people show up, they will be served as long as there still is supply.
“I’m sure we won’t be turning people away if there’s stuff left over,” Collingsworth said. “We’ll just make sure that the 400 get theirs first.”
The food is being provided by the Coastal Bend Food Bank through a disaster relief grant.
“We’re just excited to be able to do this during COVID,” Collingsworth said. “It’s going to be good for the community and Del Mar.”
