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Waubonsee Community College leadership, board of trustees, community partners, faculty, staff, alumni, and students gathered at the Sugar Grove Campus to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of The G.R.O.V.E. Student Food Pantry. Housed at Waubonsee’s new Center for Student Assistance, The G.R.O.V.E. serves as a centralized hub where staff (G)ather (R)esources and (O)ffer (V)ital (E)ssentials for students.
The G.R.O.V.E. Food Pantry provides free food and basic everyday necessities complemented by the harvest of fruits and vegetables cultivated in the Waubonsee Student Garden by Waubonsee students and members of the Science Club. To ensure equitable access across all four campus locations, distribution is supported by The G.R.O.V.E. SNACK STOP care baskets featuring grab-and-go meals, as well as The G.R.O.V.E. EXPRESS care cabinets stocked with shelf-stable goods, personal care items, meal kits and snack items accessible during late evening hours. Since the start of the fall semester, The G.R.O.V.E. has already served more than 100 students.
"Our ultimate goal here at Waubonsee is to ensure that while you are a student, you have the resources you need to be successful," said Waubonsee President Dr. Brian Knetl. "We are doing everything we can to improve the lives of our students and their families."
Beyond nutritional support, the Center for Student Assistance offers direct navigation for benefits like SNAP and Medicaid, as well as assistance with housing, transportation, childcare resources, and legal aid. According to the Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey, approximately 41% of community college students experience food insecurity—a barrier that directly impacts academic performance and retention.
"We understand that students have needs that extend far beyond the classroom," said Andrea Egle, Center for Student Assistance Manager. “We encourage students to use this center as a home base to help navigate all the complexities of life and the many hats they wear outside of being a student."
At the ceremony, Executive Director of the Waubonsee Foundation Emma Donatille alongside Waubonsee Foundation Board President Ed Keating, presented a $15,000 check to support ongoing operations at The G.R.O.V.E.
"We are committed to securing funding for food and personal care items through the Foundation," said Donatille. "We are deeply grateful for the overwhelming support from our community."
The formal proposal for The G.R.O.V.E. was spearheaded by student leader Faith Essenburg, a mother of three and RISE Student Advisory Council member.
“Waubonsee is doing work here to not only change the narrative around food insecurity, they are empowering students and equipping us with the means to change not only our lives but those of our children,” said Essenburg.
Struck by basic needs statistics during a research project on food scarcity for community college students, Essenburg proposed expanding Waubonsee's care. baskets into a permanent pantry, which has now expanded into three resources: The G.R.O.V.E, The G.R.O.V.E. SNACK STOP care baskets, and The G.R.O.V.E. EXPRESS cabinets.
The G.R.O.V.E. EXPRESS cabinets were designed and built by A Call to Shoulders, an organization dedicated to empowering military veterans through craftwork and sustainable career opportunities.
"Waubonsee needed a way to make food more accessible for students, and two Marine veterans were given an opportunity to dedicate their time, effort, and creativity to build these custom cabinets," said Greg Zioli, Executive Director of A Call to Shoulders.
The event also welcomed back alumni, including Chelsea Theinkeu, who attended Waubonsee during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and graduated before transferring to the University of Southern California to earn a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology. Now back taking prerequisite coursework for a graduate program, Theinkeu reflected on Waubonsee’s ongoing commitment to students.
"Back then, I remember Waubonsee stepping up to help students who were struggling with the cost of textbooks," said Chelsea. "Coming back five years later and seeing that they are still expanding these care initiatives is incredible. They really care so much about you here.”
Theinkeu’s sister, Mary Grace, a current Waubonsee student, was deeply touched when she learned about The G.R.O.V.E. "Food insecurity is real, but there is a place here now to get help without embarrassment,” said Mary Grace. “It feels good knowing your school truly cares about you."
To learn more about The G.R.O.V.E., or how to make a tax-deductible contribution through the Waubonsee Foundation, visit
waubonsee.edu/cares
