KEY TAKEAWAYS: Nunez Community College opened the Pelican Care Corner on March 26 in the AST Building Student Success Center. The center provides free food, hygiene products, and professional clothing for students and staff. Services consolidate multiple support programs into one convenient ca mpus location. The college also received an $8,000 Hunger-Free Campus grant to expand food security efforts and emergency supplies.   Nunez Community College has opened a new on-campus resource center aimed at expanding access to food, clothing and basic necessities for students, faculty and staff, as the college looks to reduce barriers to student success. The college officially cut the ribbon March 26 on the Pelican Care Corner during a campus ceremony led by Chancellor Tina Tinney. The new space, located in the AST Building’s Student Success Center, consolidates previously separate support services into a single location where students can access assistance more easily. Tinney said the initiative is designed to support students’ overall well-being alongside their academic progress. “The Pelican Care Corner reflects our commitment to meeting students where they are and supporting the whole person,” Tinney said. “By bringing food access, basic necessities, and professional clothing together in one welcoming space, we are removing barriers and helping our students focus on what matters most—their well-being, education and future.” The Pelican Care Corner offers free food items, hygiene products and other donated essentials. It also provides professional clothing for students preparing for job interviews or entering the workforce. College officials said combining services into one location allows students to address multiple needs in a single visit. The space includes multiple refrigerators to accommodate both perishable and nonperishable food donations, including fresh produce, frozen items and ready-to-eat goods. The college is also seeking donations of gently used professional attire in a range of sizes for men and women. Natalie Haniford, director of student success, said the program is designed to strengthen community involvement and support long-term student needs. “The Pelican Care Corner is a direct line from the community to our students,” Haniford said. “It’s an opportunity for anyone to make a difference simply by donating what’s already in their closet or in their pantry at home.” The initiative comes as the college also prepares to expand food security efforts through an $8,000 Hunger-Free Campus grant from the Louisiana Board of Regents. The funding will support emergency supply backpacks for distribution during hurricane season and campus closures, as well as the installation of small “mini-pantries” across campus for discreet, on-demand access to essentials. College officials said the combined efforts are intended to provide both immediate and emergency support for students facing food insecurity and other challenges. Nunez Community College, located in Chalmette, operates under accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and offers associate degrees along with certificates and workforce training programs. ...read more read less