WORCESTER—Quinsigamond Community College’s HomePlate Food Pantry & Resource Center is facing unprecedented demand as more students and their families grapple with rising food and housing insecurity across the region.
From early July through Thanksgiving, the pantry registered more than 750 students, supporting nearly 1,700 household members—a sharp increase from the same period last year, when about 450 students and 890 household members were served, according to the college.
As of Dec. 18, a QCC spokesperson said the pantry had registered 797 students, supporting 1,732 household members. At the same point last year, 485 students and 962 household members were registered. This year, the pantry has filled 3,910 orders, compared to 2,663 orders at this time in 2024.
“We have adjusted our system so that we don’t have to turn anyone away, but the need goes up every week,” said Charlotte Operach, manager of the HomePlate Food Pantry & Resource Center.
On the busiest days, the pantry serves as many as 100 students. In addition to groceries, HomePlate provides personal hygiene items such as toothpaste and diapers and connects students experiencing housing instability with additional resources.
One nursing student who uses the pantry described the strain food insecurity places on families and academic success.
“If I think about my kids going hungry, I would rather miss a day at school, just to go to work to save my kids,” the student said in a statement. “As a mother, it’s worrying. You cannot concentrate in school.”
About 75% of the pantry’s food supply comes from the Worcester County Food Bank, with the remainder purchased through grants and donations. Frequently requested items include fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meats, oatmeal, pasta and diapers.
With demand continuing to rise, the college has made the pantry a focus of its Giving Tuesday fundraising efforts. Operach emphasized that community support remains essential.
“With everything going on with SNAP benefits and the cost of living so high, there’s a lot of anxiety,” Operach said in a statement. “But our students are so resilient.”
The pantry accepts food and product donations at QCC’s main campus, along with monetary contributions through the QCC Foundation. Grocery store gift cards, accepted in amounts up to $50, are also encouraged to help students meet specific dietary needs.
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