Butler County Community College student Marci Lockhart, left, watches as her Thanksgiving meal package is prepared by Valerie Fennell last year on BC3’s main campus in Butler Township. Submitted Photo

The Pioneer Pantry at Butler County Community College is already preparing to distribute meal boxes to students for Thanksgiving, after getting $4,000 in grant money to buy food for the initiative.

Mikayla Moretti, interim director of fundraising and external relations at BC3 Education Foundation, said Wednesday, Oct. 23, that the foundation is planning to give out at least 70 meal boxes in November, which will include Thanksgiving food and fresh produce. The pantry distributed 63 meal boxes for Thanksgiving last year, so the 70 planned for this year is a bit of a step up for the foundation.

“It has been growing,” Moretti said of the Pioneer Pantry’s use. “We've also had a lot of presence at BC3 events where we invite people to come in; we also have a new KEYS director who has referred people.”

The BC3 Education Foundation got grant money from three local agencies: $3,000 from the Butler County Bar Association, $500 from the Butler AM Rotary Club and $500 from the Butler Rotary Club PM.

According to Moretti, the Thanksgiving meal boxes typically include a turkey, instant mashed potatoes, canned vegetables and a dessert. The foundation intends to include some fresh produce available through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.

Moretti said the college will send an email to students next week, which will give the foundation a better idea as to how many meal boxes will be needed. She also said the pantry is getting some help to pack from campus organizations.

“We have our Phi Theta Kappa group putting together pumpkin pie,” Moretti said. “The BC3 Alumni Council will help us pack this year.”