Bakersfield College’s Renegade Pantry use to exist on funds of a certain account but not any more, according to Nick Acosta, the general counsel for the Student Government Association, SGA can no longer use the $1 Campus Center fee that students pay each semester to help fund the pantry.
The pantry was started by SGA in 2009, but since then, it has been determined that a bill passed years ago doesn’t allow the pantry to collect Campus Center money, even though the pantry is located in the Campus Center.
“This semester we are only able to do distributions once a month instead of every other week like previous semesters,” Acosta said. “The SGA is now in charge of funding the pantry, but money’s tight at the moment.”
Acosta added that he has a plan that, in theory, should work.
“Have all faculty and staff get a payroll deduction of $5 each, every month for one year,” he said. “It’s less then a Starbucks drink. That would fund the pantry for two years alone.”
He’s going to be emailing staff about his proposal within the next couple days.
To receive food, you have to sign up for a food order the week of distribution. All sign ups must be done before the actual day of distribution. Distributions take place on Thursdays.
The next ones are Sept. 20 and Oct. 18. You can sign up for the October distribution on the 15th through the 17th.
If you want to volunteer at the pantry, you can sign up during distribution week. The form is in the Student Activities office. Another way of helping is donating non-perishable items to SGA office located in the Campus Center.
“I know times are tough, but it’s such a good cause,” he said. “I know families are going to be affected by this change. If everyone just gives a little bit I feel we can help a lot of people.
“I really want to get the pantry to do every other week distributions again.”
Acosta mentioned that some teachers have really stepped up either by donating more or talking to friends and getting them to donate.
During the BC BBQ he raised $20. “I was just happy to get anything,” he said. “Sure, it’s not what we hoped we would get, but every bit helps.”
The Renegade Pantry accepts monetary donations in the form of cash or checks. Checks should be made to The Renegade Pantry and all donations can be mailed to the Student Activities Office at 1801 Panorama Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93305.