At Western Iowa Tech Community College (WITCC), we know that the holidays can bring both joy and challenges. As many students and families feel the effects of recent changes in the government landscape, we remain focused on what matters most: supporting our students and helping them stay healthy, fed, and ready to succeed.
Across campus, teams, departments, and clubs have come together to make sure no student goes without a meal this season. In the CIE, our Peanut Butter and Jelly "Make and Take" station offers a free, all-day option for anyone who needs a quick bite between classes, no questions asked.
Our Culinary Arts program has also turned classroom projects into community impact. Students are using their skills to prepare meal kits and lead food drives that directly support the Western Iowa Tech Food Pantry. By cooking, baking, and organizing fundraisers, they have raised money and assembled nutritious, ready-to-make meals for students who need them most.
Employees across campus have joined the effort with a fund drive that raised upwards of $1,500 to keep the Food Pantry stocked through the holidays and beyond. Faculty, staff, and administrators have also worked together to assemble more than 100 complete meal kits for distribution, combining the efforts of the Culinary program and the Admissions team. Recipes include comforting dishes such as Cheesy Fiesta Chicken Rice Soup, Creamy Chicken and Dumplings, and Three Bean Chili Pasta.
Student clubs are also lending their energy by hosting food drives and encouraging donations across campus. Their collective efforts remind us that community care is a shared responsibility, something we practice every day at Western Iowa Tech.
Supporting student success means supporting the whole person. We are proud to maintain a campus environment where food and resources are always available, especially during times when they are needed most.
The WITCC Food Pantry is open to all current students with a valid student ID and is accessible 24/7 in the Admissions area. Through every meal kit, sandwich, and shared effort, we continue to show what it means to make Western Iowa Tech Your Place, a place of care, compassion, and connection.