The campus has introduced new food options for students returning to in-person learning.
These options include grab-and-go vending machines and multiple food trucks.
The vending machine system and the food trucks were added when the campus moved most classes online, Administrative Services Director Chrisopter Raines said.
“Due to classes still being online at that time, the district was unable to renew the contract with the company, Aramark, because the contract expired,” Raines said. “To get something in place for the limited students going back in August, we started to get food offerings in place as the student population started to expand.”
Communications and Public Information Officer Kristie West provided more information on why the food truck was brought in and who came up with the idea.
“It’s been a request for a while, but with the contract with Aramark running out, Drewskis was able to negotiate having different options on campus, which included food trucks and that wasn’t an option with Aramark,” West said.
Raines went into further detail about the installment of the vending machine system.
“We had to get the required electrical and data needs for the project of getting it in place and getting the food to the area that we were trying to allocate for the grab-and-go in the cafeteria,” Raines said.
Raines spoke about the cost of installing the vending machines.
“It really didn’t cost a whole lot, because a lot of the infrastructure was already there and part of the program was to provide the units, but we didn’t pay for the vending machines themselves,” Raines said. “We paid about $500 for two outlets to be installed.”
Art major Olivia Renshew, 20, said she liked the addition of the vending machines and the food truck.
“I think it’s really convenient for students who were in a rush, who weren’t able to eat that day or not having to wait in a long line,” Renshew said.
The food truck’s hours on campus are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays and the vending machines are also open on Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.