Department Raises Thousands for Campus Food Pantry
The School of Cybersecurity and Privacy (SCP) kicked off the season of giving early this year with a more than $2,000 food donation to Klemis Kitchen, Georgia Tech’s food bank.
The kitchen serves students in need with groceries or meals, and works to reduce food waste on campus.
"We are so grateful for this incredibly generous donation from the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy,” said Steven Fazenbaker, program director of Students’ Temporary Assistance and Resources (STAR).
“There are over 300 students with access to Klemis Kitchen, and this donation will go far in making sure these students have the food they need.”
Mary Helen Hayes, SCP assistant director of financial operations, organized the food drive and spent October raising funds.
“Throughout the year, I look for ways to bring our SCP community together—faculty, staff, and students alike,” she said.
“When I learned that about 10% of Georgia Tech students experience food insecurity and 15% often prioritize working over academics and activities just to afford food, the Klemis Kitchen food drive became my focus.”
Hayes added she wanted everyone to contribute to the SCP fundraiser, so she offered to handle the shopping for anyone who wanted to give but didn’t have the time.
“Our team came together with incredible generosity and energy—organizing, purchasing, delivering, and coordinating every detail. Within just a few days, we raised over $1000, which was then doubled through an anonymous matching gift, bringing our total to $2,110.”
The amount of food the School was able to purchase filled two cars and required the staff to make several trips to unload. According to Fazenbaker, department donations like this help keep the food bank stocked.
“Klemis Kitchen relies 100% on donations - leftovers from the dining halls, donations from community partners like grocery stores and churches, food drives sponsored by departments across campus, and monetary donations that allow us to fill gaps when food donations are low,” he said.
“The Georgia Tech community always comes through. This program only works because of Georgia Tech's commitment to Progress and Service.”
Monetary donations to Klemis Kitchen can be made on the kitchen's website. Departments can sign up to sponsor food drives here.
