Neighbors helping neighbors: Packing up holiday meals for Glassboro families
Neighbors helping neighbors: Packing up holiday meals for Glassboro families
December 22, 2020
Rowan President Ali A. Houshmand is joined by University leaders as they pack nearly 100 holiday meal kits for Glassboro residents through the Rowan-Glassboro Neighbors Table: Partners Sharing Food to Build Community program.
The spirit of the season was in high gear on Tuesday, Dec. 22, as Rowan University administrators, led by President Ali A. Houshmand, packed special holiday meal kits for borough residents as part of the Rowan-Glassboro Neighbors Table: Partners Sharing Food to Build Community program.
Prof’s Place in the Chamberlain Student Center was abuzz as masked up University leaders packed up nearly 100 meals for distribution to the community. Boxes contained everything for a festive and delicious holiday meal, including a ham or turkey, vegetables, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, bread and rolls and desserts.
On Wednesday, Dec. 23, the meals will be ready for Glassboro residents, either through delivery or via campus pick-up.
The brainchild of Houshmand, Neighbors Table was launched in November to assist families in need. Since then, nearly 1,000 people have received meals. All meals are provided through private monetary donations secured by Rowan.
“You all have made my day,” Houshmand said as he thanked campus leaders for their help. “This program is going to continue. People definitely need the help.”
Through Neighbors Table, Rowan employees and students team up with Gourmet Dining, the University’s food service provider, to distribute the meals every Friday to residents who sign up in advance via the borough website.
The special holiday meal kits received support from Gourmet Dining and additional partners, including Liscio’s Bakery, 1-900-ICE-CREAM, and ShopRite of Glassboro. Liscio’s contributed 100 loaves of bread, while 1-900-ICE-CREAM, a Philadelphia-based company, donated 350 servings of gourmet ice cream. ShopRite helped fund some of the grocery purchases.
Rowan Interim Vice President of Student Life/Dean of Students Kevin Koett said he’s seen the impact of Neighbors Table firsthand. While some students have experience with food insecurity, the program is helping other Rowan students better understand the impact hunger has on the lives of their neighbors, according to Koett.
“This program is changing lives. Our students are seeing that when they go out into the community to deliver the meals. Through their involvement, their lives are changing as well,” Koett said.