Las Positas College Expands Basic Needs Resources for Students and Community

Las Positas College (LPC) is expanding its ability to support students and their families through a growing partnership with Open Heart Food Bank, bringing a wider range of essential supplies and donated goods to campus.
 
The expanded partnership builds on LPC's Basic Needs program, which helps students overcome financial barriers that can interfere with their education. Through its on-campus Mini Market, students can access free groceries, personal hygiene products and other everyday essentials. The college also offers a monthly Free Farmers' Market, CalFresh application assistance, housing resource navigation and additional support services.
 
Through the expanded partnership, LPC now receives parenting supplies collected by Open Heart Food Bank from local retailers, including Costco. The donations, primarily diapers and baby wipes, will help the college better serve student parents while expanding access to hygiene products and other everyday necessities.
 
Additionally, donations to LPC have also included strollers, car seats and other consumer products, creating greater opportunities to support students and their families. "Open Heart Food Bank understands that college students live full lives with multi-faceted and ever-growing demands on their resources and time," said John Bost, executive director of Open Heart Kitchen. "We are grateful for our partnership with LPC, and share in their commitment to resource students with not only food and housing resources, but many of the other necessities that are often taken for granted, but are equally important for a student's success."
 
"Students shouldn't have to choose between meeting their family's basic needs and pursuing a college education," said Dr. Dyrell Foster, president of Las Positas College. "Our Basic Needs program reflects our commitment to supporting the whole student, and partnerships like this demonstrate what is possible when our community comes together to remove barriers to student success."
 
"Our partnership with Open Heart Food Bank continues to grow in ways that directly benefit our students," said Paul Simpson, student resources program manager at Las Positas College. "Having a dedicated source of diapers, wipes and other parenting supplies is especially meaningful for students who are balancing their education with the responsibilities of raising a family. These are everyday expenses that can add up quickly."
 
“What's especially encouraging is how this partnership continues to evolve,” Simpson added. “Our ability to provide access to nutritious food is made possible by Open Heart Food Bank's work to expand food access throughout the Tri-Valley. What began as a traditional food pantry has grown into a grocery store experience that helps students meet a wider range of everyday needs. That's an important step toward making sure students have the support they need to succeed.”
 
In addition to its Mini Market and other year-round Basic Needs services, Las Positas College hosts Free Farmers' Markets approximately once a month during the fall and spring semesters to make fresh, nutritious food more accessible to students and the surrounding community. The events provide free groceries, including fresh fruits and vegetables, protein options such as eggs and chicken, and shelf-stable pantry items.
 
The college's next Free Farmers' Market will take place Tuesday, November 17, beginning at 1 p.m. in the Building 1600 Courtyard. The event is open to students, faculty, staff, and community members, with no cost to attend. Check-in is required, and groceries will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until 4 p.m. or while supplies last. Attendees are encouraged to bring reusable bags. For more information on LPC’s Free Farmers’ Market, visit https://laspositascollege.edu/basicneeds/freefarmersmarket.php.

About Las Positas College
Las Positas College is a public community college located in Livermore, California, serving students throughout the Tri-Valley and surrounding communities. LPC offers career and technical education, transfer preparation, associate degrees and certificates, and a wide range of student support programs designed to help students achieve their educational and career goals.