The DISH (Delivering Information, Sustenance, and Health) Food Pantry at Bunker Hill Community College (BHCC) opened in 2019 as part of the College's holistic approach to universal student success.
The DISH is a student-driven and supported food resource that empowers our campus community to focus on being healthy, happy, and successful in a safe, dignified and stigma-free environment.
The DISH serves the BHCC community through a grocery program staffed by a full-time Food Pantry Coordinator and a team of student staff members. DISH users place their orders online; in-person services are also offered with pickup available from refrigerated lockers.
Through our community partnerships, the DISH is able to offer non-perishable food items, fresh produce, frozen proteins, eggs, dairy products, snacks, drinks, hygiene and baby supplies. While the majority of the food distributed to the DISH is donated by our community partners, we strive to meet our students' needs by purchasing additional food and specialty items, as needed.
BHCC remains committed to maintaining enough food to meet our students' growing needs. In 2024, the DISH food pantry served 715 households through our grocery program, filling 3,586 grocery orders, a 33 percent increase from the previous year. We expect the need for DISH services to continue to increase, at a time when state and federal funding for food security has decreased.
A recent survey shows that students who use the DISH felt supported, better able to focus on their studies and more likely to stay in school.
-90 percent of respondents "Agreed" or "Strongly Agreed" that their stress/anxiety was lessened by having easy access to a nutritious meal;
-89 percent were able to focus better on class- or work-related activities by receiving items from the DISH grocery program;
-85 percent of respondents were able to stay enrolled at BHCC.
In their own words, The DISH has a tremendous impact on our students’ success:
"You all have given me food when I otherwise wouldn't have been able to eat. I have to choose most times between getting gas and paying bills or getting groceries."
"It was also helpful for me being a single parent. I do not qualify for any government assistance but make a really low income and this has eased the burden in tough times. I know I can always reach out if I am struggling."
" I just want to thank the DISH food pantry and all the staff that make this program possible. Thank you for all your hard work and effort to help us get what we need without feeling judged or ashamed about economic inequality."
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The American Association of Community Colleges: Building a Nation of Learners by Advancing America’s Community Colleges
Learn more: https://www.aacc.nche.edu
