Supporting Student Success

“Students cannot study and reach their full potential if they are hungry and do not have professional clothes for interviews, and the Red Hawk Pantry and Rocky’s Closet provide these necessities to succeed,” says Sherrie Pietranico-Cole, a member of the Montclair State University College of Science and Mathematics advisory board who is also active with the Essex County (NJ) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated.

Donating items to the Red Hawk Pantry and Rocky’s Closet was a natural choice for Pietranico-Cole and fellow members of the Essex County (NJ) Chapter, The Links, Incorporated, which has made in-kind donations to both initiatives last spring and this fall.

“We want to help ensure students have access to healthy food and toiletries as well as appropriate clothing for professional opportunities,” says Karma Warren, the chapter’s president. “Our chapter eagerly finds ways to serve and lift those in need, and we are happy to donate these items, knowing they fill a need for Montclair State University students.”

Rocky’s Closet, run by the University’s Office for Social Justice and Diversity, offers free clothing to students to help them dress for success at job interviews, formal affairs or graduation. The Red Hawk Pantry opened in 2016 and has steadily served the needs of the campus community to combat the reality and struggle of food insecurity. Montclair State University was the first four-year university in New Jersey to open an on-campus food pantry.

Both initiatives are seeing a rise in need and usage. This past September, there were 1,238 visitors to the Red Hawk Pantry for the month – a marked increase compared to 302 visitors a year ago in September 2022. Visits to Rocky’s Closet jumped as well, with 98 visitors in September 2023 compared to 10 in September 2022, and 584 clothing items given to visitors.

Karina Escobar, coordinator for Student Access to Community Services, says that from September 2022 – May 2023, there were 2,846 total visitors to the Pantry and 238 to Rocky’s Closet.

“With the spike in visits this past September, we saw almost as much activity in one month as we had in half of last year,” says Escobar.

As Adela Caceres, director of the Office for Social Justice and Diversity, shares: “Sadly, there is a social stigma attached to needing assistance with basic needs (food, clothing, housing) and shame attached to asking for help. One of our goals is to normalize the use of these valuable resources on campus, and we’ve created welcoming and inclusive spaces and are building awareness about hunger and clothing insecurity.”

In doing so, Caceres and team are engaging student leaders in public service. There is a growing team of students along with individual volunteers, staff and faculty groups, and student clubs and organizations who volunteer their time organizing collections, hosting fundraisers, helping stock shelves, fold clothes and more. “It’s truly become a community effort,” she says.

“I can tell you, students are so very grateful for these resources,”  says Caceres. “We had the privilege of speaking with a family member of a user of the pantry, who shared that her family is struggling financially and she was so grateful that her daughter has the food pantry as a resource on campus because she wasn’t sure how she’d be able to support her.”

“That’s the story of many of our students and their families,” adds Caceres. “The data has shown that hunger and clothing insecurity affect marginalized communities at disproportionate rates and that ultimately, will affect their academic success, and their mental and physical wellness. From this one example, it is evident that our reach goes far beyond the student and the impact is profound. Our aim is to serve with kindness and with dignity, and when those we serve feel that, we know we have achieved our goal.”

Caceres says the support from the campus and the larger community like The Links organization has been “a true demonstration of selflessness, support and solidarity.”

“We are extremely appreciative of donations and goods to help us keep up with demand and continue to serve the needs of our campus community.”

Want to contribute?

Red Hawk Pantry: You can make your gift online. Please select “Red Hawk Pantry” on the donation form. To donate goods, email redhawkpantry@montclair.edu or purchase from this Amazon Wish List. The Pantry is located in Blanton Hall, Room 1200.

Rocky’s Closet: Email rockyscloset@montclair.edu to learn how to donate clothing or cash, or make a purchase from this Amazon Wish List. Rocky’s Closet is located on the fourth floor of Alice Paul Hall in The Village, 45 Clove Road, Little Falls.