The Captain's Cupboard is a student-run food pantry located at Southern Maine Community College for students and their families.
Starting four years ago students from Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, and former SMCC President James Ortiz came together to talk about barriers to student success at SMCC. From these discussions it was determined providing students with access to an on-campus food pantry would address issues of retention, and student persistence. The first location of the pantry was in the basement of Hague Hall, which leaked and was unfit for food storage. While the location of the pantry stalled, students actively looked into the needs of students on campus.
From a survey conducted through the initiative of the Student Senate, students determined 2.8% of students are homeless, 31.5% struggled to keep food on the table consistently, and 9.9% did not have adequate transportation which prohibited them from accessing food. The results from the student survey proved there was a high need for on campus resources.
In the fall of 2013, current President Ron Cantor gifted part of a building on campus to house the pantry. Additionally SMCC partnered with Good Shepard Food Bank to become a test site for the school pantry program at the college/university level. As of November 2013 the Captain's Cupboard opened its doors to all students at SMCC. The Captain’s Cupboard is need blind, meaning students do not need to be flagged to access the pantry. The pantry currently provides food, personal items, school supplies, and a limited supply of clothing.
Providing students with on-campus resources vital to college success.
