(Butler, PA) Without the meal package she received from Butler County Community College’s food security team, Thanksgiving “would have been a hardship,” said a 39-year-old BC3 student from Crawford County who plans to spend the holiday with her husband, three children and brother-in-law.

The health care science student works 35 hours a week between two part-time jobs and hopes to become a registered nurse.

“We receive a small monthly amount in food stamps, but it is just enough to supplement meals,” she said. “Right now, it seems like so much of our money goes to food and making sure our children eat, so this is a huge help.”

A 32-year-old BC3 psychology student and single mother of two from Armstrong County said without BC3’s Thanksgiving meal package, she would have served “just the basics. Maybe a small turkey. Not a whole lot.”

A 36-year-old registered nursing student from Jefferson County with a husband and three daughters said that “Whenever you are in college and not working, having different food options, that’s essential. You don’t have the extra income to go buy it at the store. Being provided the Thanksgiving meal as a student, I’m so thankful. It’s a huge blessing.”

 

“Barriers can take you out real quick”

Nearly 50 percent of Pennsylvania community college students come from families earning less than $30,000 a year and are considered to be of very low income, the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges reported in 2022.

This fall, a record 83 low-income BC3 students registered with the college’s food security team to receive a Thanksgiving meal package through BC3’s Pioneer Pantry. Approximately 62 of those students have dependents, according to Juli Louttit, a member of the college’s food security team.

Food prices in August were 3.2 percent higher than in August 2024, according to the most recent information available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“I have three growing girls at home,” the Jefferson County student said. “There are things I purchased in the past every week that now I can’t. Everything has gone up in price and we are really feeling it.”

The issuing of food stamps was delayed or their amounts reduced for six weeks this fall because of the federal government shutdown.

“Barriers can take you out real quick when it comes to some life-changing events,” said Jayme Steighner, a BC3 food security team member.

Steighner is also facilitator of BC3’s state-funded KEYS program, which is designed to help students who receive cash assistance or food stamps to pursue post-secondary education at a Pennsylvania community college. The college’s program is assisting 82 BC3 students this fall, the most in its 20-year history.

In addition to the choice between a 12- to 13-pound turkey or a $20 gift card, BC3’s Thanksgiving meal packages include corn, cranberry sauce, gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, pumpkin quick bread and stuffing, according to Morgan Rizzardi, another BC3 food security team member.

“I want them to have a Thanksgiving where they can have whatever favorites they want,” the Armstrong County student said of her 12-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. “I don’t want them to think I am stressing over putting food on the table.”

 

“It is heartwarming that BC3 does this”

The formation of the college’s food security team followed the debut of BC3’s Pioneer Pantry in September 2019. The food bank was established as a result of 2018 student survey in which 38 percent of the 304 respondents indicated having low or very low food security.

Food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is having reduced quality, variety or desirability of diet.

BC3’s food security team packaged its first Thanksgiving meals in 2021. The college was selected by the state Department of Education as a Hunger-Free Campus in 2022, the same year the food security team was chosen to receive a BC3 Above and Beyond Award for exceeding criteria that included willingness to assist others and extra efforts to help a group at the college.

 The Pioneer Pantry distributed in 2024 a then-record 78 Thanksgiving meal packages.

 “It is heartwarming that BC3 does this,” said the Crawford County student who plans to earn an associate degree from the college in May. “It is generous and it is kind. It makes me feel like I am important to BC3 and that BC3 wants me to succeed.”

 The Armstrong County student also plans to earn an associate degree from BC3 in May, and the registered nursing student from Jefferson County, in May 2027.

 

“BC3 cares about you and cares about your family”

BC3’s Thanksgiving meal packages assisted 37 students at BC3 @ Brockway in Brockway, 36 at the college’s main campus in Butler Township, eight from BC3 @ Armstrong in Ford City and two from BC3 @ Lawrence in Shenango Township, Steighner said.

“This means a lot and it makes you feel more welcomed here,” the Armstrong County student said. “BC3 cares about you and cares about your family. I started school to be able to better take care of my family, so it’s really nice that BC3 can see your goals and they want to help you meet those goals.”

BC3’s Thanksgiving meals were funded by $5,050 in gifts from private donors, according to Mikayla Moretti, another BC3 food security team member, and a $700 emergency grant from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank in response to the delay or reduction in food stamps, Steighner said.

St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church, Butler, contributed 30 turkeys; and Oak Hills Christian Church, Butler, canned green beans, stuffing and scalloped potatoes.

Food security, on-campus mental health services, success coaching and a Campus Assessment Reponse and Evaluation team are among BC3 services intended to meet basic needs of students, said Dr. Josh Novak, the college’s vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and a food security team member.

Louttit is BC3’s director of student financial services; Rizzardi, dean of students; and Moretti, executive director of the BC3 Education Foundation and external relations.

A Hoops for Hunger event Dec. 12 will begin at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in BC3’s Field House before the college’s men’s basketball team hosts Pennsylvania Highlands Community College. Fans are asked to bring nonperishable food items and household supplies for the Pioneer Pantry.

BC3’s Pioneer Pantry will also prepare 70 meal packages for the college’s monthlong winter break that will contain corn, green beans, fruit cocktail, pineapple, scalloped potatoes and a sugar cookie kit.