From providing volunteers to distribute turkeys to community-based organizations to supporting students grappling with food insecurity, Cal Poly Pomona pitched in to help make a difference this holiday season. Here are some of the highlights.
Operation Gobble Gobble
Cal Poly Pomona helped the Office of Supervisor Hilda Solis to distribute more than 1,400 turkeys and food boxes to the community-based organizations from the San Gabriel Valley. The university hosted Operation Gobble Gobble on Nov. 10 at AGRIscapes and provided volunteers to help distribute turkeys and food boxes. during Operation Gobble Gobble on Nov. 10 at AGRIscapes.
Supervisor Solis ('79, political science) gave a warm thanks to the more than 50 Cal Poly Pomona students who volunteered through the Center of Community Engagement. Solis also mentioned how Cal Poly Pomona has always stood up to serve the community in their time of need, including offering COIVD-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccinations.
" That's what the pride and joy is for me to see that Cal Poly has that community spirit," said Solis.
"Activities like today's Turkey Drive are who we are. We are committed to making a real difference and transforming lives," said Ysabel Trinidad, Cal Poly Pomona's vice president for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer.
Turkey Dinners
Students and staff were able to kick back and relax this Thanksgiving, after letting CPP do all the work.
A campus tradition, the Donate or Gift a Thanksgiving Dinner effort, in partnership with the Division of Student Affairs' Basic Needs Initiative and the Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, is back. Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty, or staff who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or other hardship were able to apply for a free Thanksgiving dinner package.
A complete turkey dinner costs $109.95 (including tax), feeds six to eight people and contains all the holiday favorites such as, turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, baby carrots, dinner rolls and two pies for dessert. Individual turkeys or sides were also available for purchase.
With every turkey dinner purchased or gifted, Cal Poly Pomona Foundation Dining Services donated two single serving meals to someone in need.
For more information or to get involved please visit Foundation Dining Services.
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
The Cal Poly Pomona Basic Needs Task Force hosted two fundraising events from Nov. 15-19 to combat hunger. The subcommittee who sponsored the event is made up of 17 faculty, staff and student leaders. This year the Basic Needs Task Force collaborated with many campus and community partners. Around 275 participated in the week-long event.
The first event, "Stock the Poly Pantry," helps keep the Poly Pantry's essential items available through donations made through the pantry's Amazon wish list. The pantry is collecting a wide range of items including soups, can openers, diapers, floss and soaps. The other event was the "Feed a Bronco: Swipe Out Hunger Campaign," where, students with a meal plan could donate a meal to another student through the Broncos Care Meal Sharing Program.
The Broncos Care Basic Needs Program hosted a virtual event on Nov. 15 for Basic Ally Training. The training was for faculty, staff and student leaders who want to better support students with basic needs concerns. Attendees learned about data and evidence-based methods to support their peers as they work towards solutions.
The program hosted an event in University Park on Nov. 16 to help students learn more about the various basic needs' resources and initiatives available on-campus and in the surrounding community. Attendees were invited to help create basic needs kits and write letters to elected officials to advocate for their peers.
In partnership with Broncos Care, Counseling and Psychological Services and Survivor Advocacy Services hosted a virtual viewing on Nov. 17 of the first episode of the Netflix limited series "Maid." After the viewing students were able to have a conversation with CAPS, Survivor Advocacy Services and Parenting Student Support Services. A Grubhub gift card was given to the first 100 students who registered and watched the documentary.
Broncos Care virtually hosted "My Story: Understanding Student Hunger and Homelessness Panel" on Nov. 18, where attendees learned about CSU and campus efforts to address food and housing insecurity. The panel consisted of CPP students, staff and faculty who have navigated hunger and homelessness. A Grubhub gift card was given to the first 100 students who registered and watched the documentary.
Poly Pomona Holiday Mixer
In partnership with the Alumni Association and Bronco Bookstore, alumni, faculty, staff, and families gathered for an unforgettable night of shopping, discounts, raffles and door prizes to kick off the holiday season. The Nov. 19 event included complimentary drinks, holiday music and free parking.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, organizers of the mixer were unable to accept physical donations this year. However, they were able to accept gifts through Amazon wish list to help support the Poly Pantry.
The Poly Pantry was established in 2019 to serve students impacted by food insecurity. The Pantry is available to all Broncos who feel they are in need, a place where can shop for themselves in order to meet their dietary and hygiene needs.