West Valley College Receives Founding Gift to Establish New Food Pantry

Long-time Saratoga resident, Lois Gragnola, recently donated $10,000 to help establish a new food pantry at West Valley College.

The food pantry, which is under construction, will open in 2022 when West Valley College officially welcomes its students back to campus. The result of a planned partnership between Second Harvest Food Bank and West Valley College, the new food pantry will offer food free-of-charge to any student in need. The food pantry will also serve the local community.

Gragnola made the donation after years of wondering how to help families in need. Gragnola shares, “After learning about how students, including some who have children of their own, struggle with homelessness and hunger, I was anxious to help West Valley College start this new food pantry. This was something I could do to support families right here in my own backyard.”

According to the California Community College #RealCollege Survey, nearly 50% of community college students are food insecure, which is defined as “the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner.” Recognizing the link between food security and positive educational outcomes, hundreds of food pantries are opening on college campuses around the nation.

West Valley College President Stephanie Kashima says, “Lois’s generous gift helps us further our mission of recognizing the whole student. When our students are food insecure, it directly impacts student outcomes. Creating a food pantry on campus is one way we can help reduce the barriers to student success that exist beyond the classroom.” Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, West Valley College saw a sharp uptick in the number of requests it received from students needing support to meet their basic needs. In addition to grocery distribution days, West Valley College also runs several programs through its Office of Student Needs.

Members of the community will be welcome to celebrate the grand opening of the food pantry in March 2022. For more information on supporting the West Valley College food pantry, please contact Melissa Johns, Executive Director of Advancement at the West Valley-Mission Foundation.