Faculty Senate President Tiffany Cox Hernandez discusses progress updates with senate members during a meeting Oct. 21 in Room 643 of Moody. Photo by Alison Graef
Names were submitted, but with a focus on the food pantry.
By Christian Erevia
cerevia@student.alamo.edu
Faculty Senate discussed clarification about this college’s contest to name its anti-poverty initiative Oct. 21 at their second meeting of the semester.
The anti-poverty initiative, which includes a campus food pantry, clothes closet and support services for students in need, is still awaiting a name.
Names have been submitted by students and reviewed by the anti-poverty committee, which will choose a name for the program.
The problem with the contest is that the suggested names have been focused on the food pantry as opposed to all of the services, Faculty Senate President Tiffany Cox Hernandez said.
“We’ve received tons and tons and tons of really great suggestions, but they focus primarily on the food pantry portion, and I think that was from the communication that went out from Vanessa (Torres), which is 100 percent my responsibility,” Hernandez said.
“I think it was a little unclear so that we’re not just talking about the food pantry, but we’re talking about all the services.”
Aside from the food pantry, students in need will be able to access a clothes closet with donated clothing; they will also have one-on-one help with emergency aid and other tasks, such as filling out government aid forms.
“It’s food pantry and clothing closet,” Hernandez said.
“More importantly, it’s that case management with students so they can go in there if they have an emergency need or just need help filling out their state aid assistance form or whatever else it may be.”
Students may use the anti-poverty services as long as they are enrolled at this college.
“It’s a one-stop shop, but it’s not an ‘in-and-out and that’s all the help you will get,’” Hernandez said.
“It should be an ongoing support while you’re a student here at San Antonio College.”
The committee working on the clothes closet has not developed a plan for a clothes drive. Their focus has been on the food pantry, Hernandez said.
“That (the clothes closet) will be addressed. I just don’t know what it is yet,” Hernandez said.
Several senate members asked whether the clothes closet will be equipped with a washing machine and dryer so donations can be washed and students may do laundry.
“That’s a good point. I’ll look into that,”Hernandez said.
The anti-poverty committee is also exploring the option of reserving post office boxes for students in the program.
“Having some in the UPS store, some boxes that can be assigned to students so that just while you’re at SAC, this is yours,” Hernandez said. “We’ll look into that.”
Hernandez said Faculty Senate is looking for a name that encompasses all the anti-poverty services and includes the actual location of these services, which will be available in Room 323 of Chance.
Support services are available now. The anti-poverty initiative’s name will be announced Nov. 15.
