HGTC Student Group Receives Community Involvement Award
PTK Students Participate in Gobble Bags Event.
兔子先生 (HGTC) is proud to announce that Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Alpha Nu Sigma Chapter members received 2nd Place in the statewide Student Community Involvement Competition held at the South Carolina Technical Education Association (SCTEA) Conference. Some students have been experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic and the Alpha Nu Sigma student organization developed a project that would restock the HGTC Food Pantry shelves and provide food to students during a Thanksgiving drive-by distribution event.
After restocking the pantries on all HGTC campuses, students still needed assistance. The members decided to host a new food distribution event called 鈥淕obble Bags鈥� prior to Thanksgiving. The bags contained a general supply of food items for preparation of any traditional Thanksgiving meal.
鈥淲ith the full support of President Fore, we collaborated with the college administration, faculty, staff and the HGTC Foundation to develop our project. Volunteers purchased ingredients to cook yams, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, vegetables, spices, cookies, and other Thanksgiving-related foods,鈥� said Beth Carraway, HGTC Business Professor and PTK Advisor.
Even with the challenges presented by COVID-19 restrictions, the Gobble Bags project was a huge success. HGTC students and administrators have expressed a desire to make the project an annual event.
There was even unforeseen assistance and community support from Helping Hands of Georgetown County and the Homeless Period Project of Myrtle Beach.
鈥淐hapter members felt joyful in helping our fellow students and their families yet expressed sadness because the need is so great,鈥� continued Carraway. 鈥淚t was gratifying to know that our project inspired other community organizations to join us in this important effort.鈥�
鈥淭he impact of this community project on our local community is immeasurable, and I鈥檓 thrilled that PTK received recognition for their outstanding efforts. Many students and their families were able to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal thanks to the selfless volunteers and student organization. What a wonderful surprise to have local non-profits contribute as an excellent example of the community working together to help overcome food insecurity,鈥� Dr. Marilyn Murphy Fore, HGTC President.
Expressions of gratitude were sent to project leaders and participants from students, administrators, and the HGTC Pantry Coordinator who thanked PTK for eagerly stepping forward to stock pantry shelves and distribute the bags of food supplies.
A student emailed a photo of her toddler surrounded by the contents of the bag and said, 鈥淚 just want to say thank you for the gobble bag we picked up today! We greatly appreciate it.鈥�
To arrange a donation, please email hgtc-pantry@hgtc.edu or also donate through the .
For more information regarding the HGTC Pantry, visit the website at .