Hostos’ Student Government Association Fights Food Insecurity: Makes $900 Gift to Food Pantry for CUNY Tuesday

 The Student Leaders Also Partnered with the College’s Food Vendor, MBJ Food Services, to Redistribute Unsold Meals Through Their “Fridays Feed Us” Initiative

 
Giving Tuesday, the International Day of Giving, was developed in 2012 to inspire global philanthropy. At Hostos Community College, where CUNY Tuesday is celebrated on December 2, this generous spirit is alive and well.
 
The student population at Hostos faces significant need: in this predominantly immigrant South Bronx community, more than 80% of students come from households earning less than $30,000 per year. Knowing this, Hostos Student Government Association (SGA) President Nichelle Hemphill, who was selected to be the face of Hostos’ CUNYTuesday Campaign, and her fellow SGA leaders decided to do more than promote the annual fundraising event. They pooled together their resources and made a collective $900 CUNY Tuesday gift toward Hostos’ food pantry.
   
“A lot of us have experienced having to choose between our education and a good meal, so we wanted to make it so with our own funds that we show our appreciation for the Hostos pantry because not everyone knows what the Hostos pantry does,” Hemphill explained. She went on to share that the gift was also a show of appreciation for Hostos’ students and to help fight food insecurity.
 
CUNY Student Government Associations receive a budget allocation that enables them to award scholarships and support student clubs, but it was important to these young leaders to give their own money to help their fellow students. “One of the things that we really wanted to do was make an impact this semester, especially because a lot of us are going to be leaving,” shared Ashley Walker, SGA Part-time and Evening Student Affairs Commissioner. “We felt that CUNY Tuesday was something that we were really committed to and wanted to set an example for SGA and for Hostos. Giving Tuesday was our way of saying we care, we’re giving back, and we encourage everyone else to do the same.”
 
Hostos President Daisy Cocco De Filippis, who created the Cocco De Filippis Family Endowed Scholarship through CUNY Tuesday in 2023, reflected on the importance of giving to Hostos’ students. “I am deeply moved by the leadership of our Student Government Association,” she shared. “Their commitment to raising funds for the Hostos food pantry reflects the very soul of our College: students lifting one another up, leading with compassion, and building a community where no one is left behind. Their example reminds us of the power we each hold to make a difference, and I could not be prouder of their dedication to the Hostos family.”
 
The SGA’s generous gift will help provide nutritional support for the nearly 1,000 students who visit the food pantry at Hostos each month for groceries, fresh produce pick-up, or grab-and-go snacks. Madeline Cruz, Coordinator of Hostos’ One Stop program, manages the pantry and praised the students for their generosity. She emphasized their role in raising awareness about the pantry, promoting community engagement, and dispelling the stigma associated with using this important resource. “By creating this type of community — students helping other students — they know that it is important to participate and be volunteers and be part of the solution so they can help each other,” she said. “They are the ones who encounter students in the classroom and during activities, and they are the ones who hear what their classmates are going through so they can refer their classmates to the pantry or other One Stop resources to receive other services that we have.”
 
The Hostos SGA’s commitment to fighting food insecurity goes further than CUNY Tuesday. They have also partnered with MBJ Food Services, the College’s food services vendor, to further ensure that students have access to food and minimize food waste through their “Fridays Feed Us” initiative. Through the initiative, MBJ redistributes unsold meals, free of charge, to students in the College’s student lounge at 3 p.m. every Friday. The SGA covers the discounted cost for the prepared food, sandwiches, parfaits, fruit, salads, and Starbucks bakery items provided.
 
“This initiative came together through a lot of back‑and‑forth — not just about logistics, but about how to make it meaningful,” explained Hemphill. “We brainstormed names that captured the spirit of community, and we negotiated with MBJ to ensure the costs were manageable. What we landed on was more than a food program; it’s a commitment to equity and dignity, making sure Hostos students know their needs are seen and met.”
 
Remona Woolery, MBJ Food Services Manager, shared that while the vendor regularly donates food to local pantries at the end of each week, Hemphill’s idea encouraged them to shift course and focus donations directly on the campus community that they are so proud to serve.
 
“Food is the cornerstone of so much — health, success, and a sense of belonging,” shared Woolery. “Supporting those who are food insecure is core to who we are. MBJ’s tagline is ‘creating community through every meal,’ and this partnership is a meaningful example of that commitment in action.” Woolery also stated that if any student is ever hungry or in need of food, they are welcomed to stop by her office to speak with her. “MBJ will always do what we can to help,” she said.
 
Additionally, the SGA helped promote MBJ’s “Cupcakes for a Cause” initiative throughout November, for which the vendor donated one canned or dry good to CUNY campuses with no pantry or low supplies for every cupcake sold through the campus-based cafeterias that they service.

The College is grateful to Hostos’ incredible SGA for their commitment to serving and prioritizing the needs of their fellow students, not only through their generous CUNY Tuesday contribution to the food pantry but also with their “Fridays Feed Us” initiative. This dedication to combating food insecurity and fostering a supportive environment on campus not only addresses immediate needs but also instills a sense of belonging and dignity among students. As these young leaders continue to set a powerful example, they remind us that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of change.

Funds raised for Hostos during the CUNY Tuesday campaign support vital campus resources like scholarships, the food pantry, and the Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture. If you want to follow the SGA’s lead, gifts can be made here.