The Roxbury Community College (RCC) Community takes great pride in going above and beyond to support RCC students. At RCC, we consider ourselves family, ready and willing to step up and support our students and each other during times of great need. This shared commitment was on full display throughout the 2025 holiday season.
In early November, many RCC students were impacted by changes to SNAP benefits. RCC’s Advancement team sprang into action, and thanks to generous support from RCC’s donors, the RCC Foundation raised $37,000 for the Rox Box via the Giving Tuesday Campaign. This generosity sends a powerful message to RCC students: you are valued, you belong here, and your community is standing with you.
To supplement the donor support, the Office of Project Access ran a food drive during November and December. Food drive bins were placed in RCC Connect, the Library, the Learning Center, Project Access, the STEM Faculty Suite, the Academic Affairs & Student Success Suite, the Center for Workforce Development, and the Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center. Each week, volunteers picked up bins overflowing with donated goods to help stock the Rox Box Shelves.
Thanks to the efforts of the Greater RCC Community, 400 unique shoppers were served by the Rox Box in November and December. The need to address food insecurity among RCC students never stops; accordingly, the food drive will continue in the new year.
At the RCC Connect Grand Opening Celebration on November 20, Project Access and Student Engagement partnered to distribute over 200 Thanksgiving resource bags. The bags included Thanksgiving sides and $25.00 gift certificates to Stop & Shop.
On December 11, Professor Sharlene Malcolm and the Business Department held a Thrift and Thrive Market, where students could acquire vintage and gently used clothing for free. The market provided RCC students with a fun, collaborative environment to secure new clothing, at no cost, with dignity and respect.
On December 16 and 17, the Office of Public Safety hosted its annual fill-a-cruiser toy drive. Throughout each day, RCC faculty and staff dropped off new toys at the RCC Police Cruiser. At the end of the drive, the Public Safety team brought the donations to Project Access for distribution to students with children.
Every day, President Jonathan K. Jefferson, RCC leaders, faculty, and staff prioritize providing RCC students with a holistic, supportive environment. At the end of a challenging calendar year, let the spirit and unity at RCC serve as a reminder that regardless of what’s happening in the world around us, our community will continue to thrive so long as we work together.
