Glendale Community College will host a free Farmers Market and Resource Fair in partnership with St. Mary’s Food Bank this Thursday, September 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the main campus to support students facing food insecurity or shortage from this epidemic that is on the rise for students.
The outdoor event provides free fresh fruits, vegetables and shelf stable goods directly to GCC students, faculty staff and surrounding community members. Organizers of this program aim to make nutritious, high quality standard groceries available while removing financial stress during the serious head start of the academic year of this semester.
Alongside the produce distribution, the Resource Fair brings together several campus departments and local support organizations in one central location. Attendees can connect directly with representatives from GCC Basic Needs, financial aid, health services, and peers teaching them around the campus area that have assistant programs that will help them in the long run.
“How does food insecurity affect academic performance and dependence?” A student may ask or is curious about.
“Food insecurity is a real, ongoing challenge for many college students balancing tuition, expensive textbooks, and rising living expenses,” said GCC Student Life representative Maria Santos. “Partnering with St. Mary’s Food Bank allows us to provide immediate, healthy nutrition right here on campus so students can focus on their studies without worrying about their next meal.”
Organizers of this program await serving upwards of 200 students and local community residents during the two hour window. No financial qualifications, proof of income, or pre registration are required to participate in the distribution. To make sure the process runs smoothly and sustainably, event planners encourage all participants to bring their own reusable shopping bags, tote bags, or small folding carts to transport their groceries across campus to make the event more successful and better for the community and environment.
The Farmers Market operates on a monthly schedule throughout the fall semester on the GCC main campus as part of a broader district plan to improve student health and campus dependency rates. Research provides that meeting students’ basic needs directly correlates with higher class attendance and better academic performance throughout the school year.
For additional information regarding the event, volunteer opportunities, or ongoing basic needs resources, students can visit the Office of Student Life located in Room SU101 of the Student Union or check the campus events calendar online at https://www.gccaz.edu/
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I thought this was an informative and relevant article because food insecurity is an issue that can affect students in ways that extend beyond simply having enough food to eat. especially liked how the event combines the Farmers Market with a Resource Fair. Providing fresh produce and shelf-stable foods while also connecting students to access several types of support in one location. This could make it easier for students to find help without feeling overwhelmed by having to search for different resources on their own. I also found it interesting that the event doesn’t require proof of income or pre-registration. Removing those requirements could make the program more accessible to students who may need assistance but feel uncomfortable navigating complicated processes. Your article mentions that organizers expected to serve up to 200 students and community members. I would how the organizers determine how much food to provide and what happens if more people attend than expected. But also knowing whether students who regularly attend the monthly Farmer Market have noticed an impact on their ability to manage school-related expenses. Overall, this event shows how addressing needs can support students both personally and academically. Providing resources like these may help create a stronger and supportive campus community.
Hello Zakiah, this was a great article, it demonstrates a clear understanding of what this Free Farmers Market event offers and its purpose. I found this news story to be especially educational, as reading the title of “Free Farmers Market” instinctively caught my attention, as I had never heard of this kind of event before. You did an excellent job outlining exactly what this event is, who it is for, and why it was made. It was interesting to find out that this event was to provide “free fresh fruits, vegetables, and shelf stable goods” to GCC students, faculty, staff, and surrounding community members, rather than just students or community members alone. The question you present, inquiring about food insecurity, and subsequent quote from Maria Santos, effectively establishes the purpose of this event as well as why one may want to attend the Free Farmers Market. Your article goes over how valuable this kind of event is and includes how much it helps the community as well as how the Free Farmers Market is scheduled. One thing I was curious about after reading your article was, what is the process of receiving food at this event like? You mention that the organizers of this program serve upwards of 200 students and residents during a two-hour window. I think it would be interesting to learn more about how they portion and package the food for people, as well as how the volunteers and attendees are spaced out and accommodated. This is already a great article though!
Hello Zakiah, this is a great example of an informative news report. Instead of reacting and documenting the event itself, you took initiative and sought to publish the information before the event so that students were more likely to be informed and attend. I had been planning to write my piece documenting the day of the event, but as I’m sure you know it was rescheduled for the following week. My strategy meant I had to improvise and didn’t get to cover the market, but yours ensured that the information was still published and accessible, and still relevant for the rescheduled date. In my opinion, your approach was smarter.
I also thought it was smart and effective to interview one of the coordinators, Maria. She’s very smart and a lovely resource, and I’m sure there was no shortage of passion or effort to arrange this event, and that showed in your reporting. The event being aimed at helpful social programs and an awareness for student food insecurity really resonated with me. Not only was the piece informative, but highlighted an important issue, while laying out Glendale Community College’s dedication and efforts. Overall, great work! I look forward to reading more reporting from you.
Hi Zakiah, I really liked your article because it talks about an issue that affects a lot of college students, especially students who are already dealing with the costs of tuition, books, and other expenses. I think the Farmers Market is a good topic for a news story because it gives students information about a resource that they might not know about. I also liked that you included specific details about when and where the event was happening. Giving the date, time, and location makes it easier for someone reading the article to actually go to the farmers market. I also thought the quote from Maria Santos worked well because it explained why it is important instead of just giving information about the event itself. The part about students being able to focus on school without worrying about their next meal helps show the bigger reason behind the program. I also liked how you mentioned students don’t need to show proof of income. Thats an important detail because some people might not want to get help if they think there are a lot of requirements involved.
One thing I noticed is that some of the sentences were a little long and could be broken up to make the article a little easier to read. There were also a few places where the wording was confusing, but the main idea was still very easy to understand. Overall, I think you did a good job explaining everything and why it matters to the college community. I also liked that you included information about the resource fair because it shows that students can get more than just food and can also learn about other resources available to them.