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Nicole Cruz
Office of the Superintendent/President
(415) 485-9508
ExtraFood Selects COM as Recipient of the Week
Partnership creates symbiotic relationship that helps COM students and the environment
KENTFIELD, CA—March 14, 2017—College of Marin (COM) is one of ExtraFood’s new partners in addressing food insecurity and reducing food waste in Marin County. Although many wouldn’t think that in this affluent county there would be an issue of people going hungry, but the reality is that about 50,000 Marin County residents worry about where they will get their next meal. Students have more difficulty learning if they are hungry and COM is no exception when it comes to students with food insecurity. The College is pleased to partner with ExtraFood to bring a pop-up food pantry with fresh produce and baked goods to the Kentfield Campus each week.
Three years ago, Marv Zauderer, found a way to feed people and cut down on the staggering amount of food that is wasted across the nation each day. He founded the nonprofit on the idea that fresh, healthy food that would otherwise be thrown away would do a lot more good if it found its way to those in need. Zauderer began by asking food pantries, homeless shelters, and schools what and how much food they needed. Then he asks grocery stores, caterers, restaurants, farmers markets, etc. throughout the county to donate their excess food. A team of 200 volunteers pick up the donated food and distribute it 365 days a year.
COM’s Pop-up Pantry is each Tuesday afternoon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (as long as food is available) outside the Student Services Center at the Kentfield Campus. Food is available on a first come, first served basis and students are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags.
Zauderer is glad to have found another way to extend ExtraFood’s reach into the community and to provide students with a safety net so that they can concentrate on their studies. COM is grateful the partnership with ExtraFood and for being selected as Recipient of the Week.
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About ExtraFood
Located in San Rafael, the mission of ExtraFood is to help end hunger and food waste in Marin County. To accomplish this, the organization brings together the core values of connection, collaboration, service, learning, integrity, impact, and fun. Every day volunteers pick up excess fresh food from businesses and organizations and immediately deliver it to nonprofits serving Marin’s most vulnerable children, adults, and families.
About College of Marin
College of Marin is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, 10 Commercial Blvd., Suite 204, Novato, CA 94949, (415) 506-0234, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Additional information about accreditation, including the filing of complaints against member institutions, can be found at www.accjc.org
College of Marin is one of 113 public community colleges in California and approximately 13,000 credit, noncredit, and community education students enroll annually.