RVCC Foundation’s “Generosity & Gratitude” Event Benefits College’s Resource Center & Food Pantry

In the spirit of the holiday season, the Raritan Valley Community College community displayed its generosity and willingness to “give back” and help those in need during a recent event hosted by the RVCC Foundation. Titled “An Evening of Generosity & Gratitude,” the November 12 program, held at the College’s Branchburg campus, offered the opportunity for the Foundation to thank and celebrate its generous donors and also make strides in addressing food insecurity on campus. Proceeds benefited the RVCC Resource Center and Food Pantry.

The RVCC Foundation is the fundraising arm of Raritan Valley Community College.

Those attending the event were asked to bring a $30 donation, a $30 ShopRite gift card, or a minimum of $30 worth of grab-and-go snacks or toiletry items, all to be donated to the Resource Center and Food Pantry. The funds were amplified by a generous pledge by the RVCC Foundation Board of Directors—initiated by vice chair, Dan Van Tran—which offered a two-times match (an additional $60) for anyone attending and donating items or funds at the event.

In total, approximately $68,000 was raised during the celebration and through online fundraising—thanks, in large part, to a $50,000 anonymous gift to the RVCC Resource Center and Food Pantry, which was announced during the program. Some 75 guests attended the event, which featured entertainment by RVCC student musicians Daniel Santos and Nathaniel Richemond.

“We are grateful for the generosity of our RVCC colleagues, community members, the RVCC Foundation Board of Directors, and especially our anonymous donor. It is inspiring to witness this collective support, all focused on such an essential need for our students. This fundraising result couldn’t be more important or more timely,” said Mike Marion, Executive Director, RVCC Foundation and RVCC Alumni Association.

The event also served as a ceremonial kickoff for the last stretch of the RVCC Foundation’s end-of-year fundraising campaign, which seeks to bring in more support for RVCC students facing food insecurity. Those interested in continuing the efforts may donate online at www.raritanval.edu/hunger.

The RVCC Resource Center and Food Pantry, which is open to the entire College community, addresses food insecurity and provides students with the basic needs to help keep them in school. The goal is to alleviate any barriers that might prevent students from achieving their educational goals.

The Resource Center helps students in a variety of ways, including providing appropriate attire for job interviews, along with every-day and seasonal clothing to meet students’ year-round needs, and offering financial support such as gas cards and grocery store cards, book vouchers, transportation assistance, housing and medical resources, and snacks.

The College community greatly benefits from a wide range of donations to the Center and Food Pantry, including over $1,000 worth of produce, meat, dairy products, and pantry items from the weekly Wegmans on-campus delivery; clothing and food provided by the Somerset Food Bank; contributions from the Community Food Bank of New Jersey; and additional support from community donors, including student associations, faculty, and staff, as well as donations of menstrual products and diapers for family care.

The RVCC Foundation provides the resources that enable the College to enhance its programs beyond public and tuition sources and to maintain its standing as a premier academic institution and one of the most important sources of culture and continuing education in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

For those seeking additional information about ways to support the College and the work of the RVCC Foundation, contact Mike Marion at 908-648-8567 or michael.marion@raritanval.edu, or visit https://rvccfoundation.org.

RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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