ECC Student Talks Feed the Need Drive, Spartan Pantry

Dual credit student and Burlington resident Laci VerCande is in her first semester at ECC. She immediately wanted to get involved on campus, but wasn’t sure how. 

During orientation, VerCande first heard of the Spartan Pantry, ECC’s student-run food pantry. She was interested in volunteering, but didn’t get involved until she met student Sid Perkins, Spartan Pantry and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society officer, in their government class. Perkins was recruiting for the honor society, and VerCande jumped on board. The honor society manages the Spartan Pantry. Watch video here. 

VerCande serves as the pantry’s documentation chair. She helps manage the pantry's operations, including restocking, running the front desk, and ensuring students adhere to limits at the checkout table. 

With the ongoing Feed the Need Food Drive initiative and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits in the U.S. partially suspended, the pantry has seen an uptick in student visits. VerCande says she’s seen around 55 to 70 people daily, as of November 5. The pantry uses the app Link2Feed to track when people visit, and she has seen 10 more accounts created in the past week. 

“The food drive is super important, especially right now,” she said. “It's currently running and stops December 1. That doesn’t mean people should stop donating. Right now we're counting donations.”

She also said the ECC clubs and departments are currently in competition for which group can make the most donations for the food drive. The club that wins gets a pizza party, they said. 

Vercande says they think the pantry is a great resource, always open for everyone. 

“We try to erase the stigma of food pantries, because they can be so scary to go into, and we don’t want that,” she said. “Because it's a resource, it's not a statement of need.”

Currently (as of November 6, 2025), the most needed food items at the Spartan Pantry are:

• Canned meat
• Baking mix
• Frozen meat, snacks, and fruit

Toiletries needed most include: 

• Deodorant
• Shampoo and conditioner
• Body wash
• Baby wipes
• Coats and all types of clothing
• Laundry detergent
• Household items

The Spartan Pantry is open to students Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 4 pm. The pantry is located in Building B, Room B175. 

For more information on how to donate or volunteer, head to elgin.edu/student-services/spartan-pantry.