When Andy Hufnagl told his Moraine Valley Fire Academy students about the college’s food pantry, some didn’t even know it existed.
That changed when the class took on a collection drive, bringing in bags and boxes of food and other necessities for Project Care, a pantry that serves Moraine Valley students and their families.
Each student was asked to bring in five to 10 items. Many did, and some brought even more.
The collection was this semester’s community service project for the Fire Academy, a 10-week program that meets five days a week. Every class is expected to take part in a service project as part of its training.
Hufnagl, the college’s Emergency Medical Services/Fire Science coordinator, said the class wanted to help people within its own campus community.
With grocery prices continuing to put pressure on household budgets, he thought the food pantry was a good place to direct the students’ efforts.
“We have never donated to Project Care before, but I am sure this will not be the last time,” Hufnagl said.
The students brought in everything from canned goods and noodles to cosmetics. The donations will go to students who use the pantry to help cover some of their household expenses.
Project Care served 163 students through 752 visits last year, a 61% increase from the previous year.
Jessica Contreras, the college’s director of Counseling and Holistic Student Support, has an office across the hall from the pantry. She said she regularly hears from students who are grateful for the help.
For some, being able to pick up groceries means one less expense to worry about.
“I cannot count how many times I have heard students express not only gratitude for the pantry but also relief at being able to take one more stressor off their plate,” Contreras said.
The project also gave Fire Academy students a different look at the work they are preparing to do.
Alex Martino of Orland Park said he came into the program thinking firefighters primarily put out fires. The community service projects have shown him there is more to the job.
“It’s part of our job as firefighters to give back to the community, and it’s pretty cool what Moraine Valley does for the community,” Martino said.
Pacyga said she didn’t know the college had a food pantry until Hufnagl brought it to the class’s attention.
“It’s the least we can do,” she said.