Opportunities to Get Involved
Students coming to Purchase College have several perks and opportunities available to them. One relatively unsung hero of our institution is our professional staff. Our staff is exceptional in their commitment to serving and supporting students, their health, and their success.
The pandemic took us away from one another, and from many of the touchpoints we would typically have with students. As we prepare to re-open for our first full academic year in person since 2019, here are some ways to support students and feel more actively involved with the community.
Multicultural Center
The Multicultural Center will be re-opening in the fall with a full-year plan for engaging our community in events and discussions about identity, intersectionality, civic engagement, compassion, and healing. The MCC is positioned as a bridge to help break down silos on our campus. I’d love to partner with you on programming!
Here’s How You Can Help
Collaborate on Events
Please email me if your office would like to work together to plan an event around a heritage month or one that explores identity, inclusion, or equity.
Forward Prospective Events and Contacts
If you cannot collaborate but have an idea of an event or contact who could collaborate, please forward them my way. You can use the form on the MCC website to send me information.
Cross-Promote Each Other’s Events
If you are having an event that you think fits into diversity/multiculturalism/identity exploration (remember, diversity is a broad term and can mean a lot of different things), please share with the Office of Diversity on LiveWhale and share with the MCC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so I can help cross-promote.
Attend Our Events and Programs
The MCC will be holding events and discussions in person and on Zoom. You can support our events by coming; including staff voices in important campus, discussions is so needed.
Promote Us to Students
Direct students to the MCC the same way you would other resources and services on campus. Let them know that we are both a space and a mission.
Help Build the Resource Pages
I’m working on the MCC website and am especially interested in building resource pages for both online resources to support our different communities as well as opportunities in the local community. For example, I see a lot of posts on the Open Forum about where Black students can get their hair done in the area. Other students have asked me if there are Asian grocery stores in Westchester. Any ideas or resources you have are always appreciated.
The Food Pantry
The Food Pantry is a resource on campus available to all students and serves to combat food insecurity on campus. This year, I’d like to focus on addressing stigma by increasing visibility. By this, I mean that I’d like Food Pantry to be promoted more as an on-campus resource and to have more robust offerings for the students who utilize the Pantry.
Here’s How You Can Help
Food Donations
Donations can be dropped off during business hours at the Food Pantry (in the library) or the Multicultural Center (in Fort Awesome).
I will update the website bi-weekly with needed food items. Feel free to choose one of these options or contact me with questions about what has been requested.
A tip: Many stores offer “buy one, get one free” options on food items. Use this opportunity to pick up an extra bag or box of something you use to donate to the Pantry.
Financial Donations
Make a donation via a payroll deduction using the form found here.
Food Recovery Network
Food Recovery Network: Ragnhild Utheim and Els van den Bosch have worked hard to spearhead this program since 2019.
Here’s How You Can Help
Raise Your Hand
Get involved by completing the form on the website.
Events
Notify Ragnhild, Els, or me about when you will be having an event with food where there may be a recovery opportunity. This way, we can plan to salvage food that will be added to the Food Pantry.
Volunteer for the Mobile Pantries
We will hold the Mobile Food Pantry one Wednesday each month from 1–2 pm and can always use volunteers to help distribute the food! Once the schedule is posted, contact me to volunteer.
Cleaning and Organizing
I will be working this summer to clean and re-organize the Pantry and make it an accessible, welcoming environment. Thanks to a donation from Hudson Valley restaurant, I have new racks and storage options. If you are interested in volunteering time to help, please email me.