University Police Services donates to WNC Food & Hygiene Pantry

Courtesy Steve Yingling, Western Nevada College

University Police Services, which provides a safer learning environment for Western Nevada College and other Nevada System of Higher Education institutions, has taken its service to students one step further.

The department recently donated $650 to WNC Foundation for the college’s new Food & Hygiene Pantry. The money will help stock the pantry that is earmarked to open this semester to help students meet their basic needs.

“We have seen the impact that COVID has had on our students at the main campus, with student workers having to be laid off, and on our student population, in general, so we’re trying to come up with ways that we can help,” said University Police Services Northern Command Lieutenant John Galicia. “A lot of students have come to Student Services and don’t have a way to pay for rent.”

Consequently, the officers and staff came up with a unique way to fundraise in their department: contribute $40 per month to the cause and be rewarded with relaxed grooming standards. Essentially that meant that officers could grow facial hair or add some colorful streaks to their hair.

“We came up with relaxed policy grooming standards and it took off,” Galicia said. “It was strictly on a volunteer basis. If somebody wanted to continue in policy, they didn’t have to donate money.”

The four-month fundraiser enabled University Police Services to donate to all of the colleges it serves.

“We’re only here because of our students and it takes that servant leadership that we have one step further, and if we have the opportunity to make that kind of positive impact in the community we serve, we are going to take that all the way,” Galicia said.

WNC plans to open the pantry during the current fall semester in the Student Center in the Joe Dini Building.

PHOTO CAPTION:

University Police Services turned out in full force, along with Carson City Sheriff Kenny Furlong, to meet students at Western Nevada College during Coffee with a Cop on Wednesday in Carson City.