College students invited to potluck in Arcata

The Home Away From Home Committee will host a potluck and “free stuff” distribution for local college students at 5 p.m. Sunday at the D Street Neighborhood Center, 1301 D St., Arcata.

Vegetarian, vegan, special diet and meat meal options will be available. Proof of college enrollment, such as a student ID or an active student email, is required.

The committee's purpose is to build a bridge between local college students and the broader community. Since the committee was formed in 2018, Home Away from Home volunteers have supported students by hosting potlucks and free meal and household supply distributions, serving over 1,000 local college students.

Community members who wish to attend the potluck are asked to bring a home-cooked dish large enough to serve 10 people with a serving utensil or a hot pad, if needed. College students are asked to only bring their appetites, but are welcome to bring a dish to share if they feel inclined. Those who wish to bring a dish or volunteer at the event can sign up in advance at tinyurl.com/HomeAwayfromHomePotluck.

In order to support the needs of local college students, Home Away From Home also seeks “free stuff” donations from non-student members of the community. Donations of new and unused supplies, including non-perishable food items, gift cards to local grocery stores, restaurants and laundromats, laundry and dish detergent, sponges, paper towels, cleaning supplies, disinfectant wipes and toiletries such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, menstrual supplies and toilet paper. Monetary donations are also appreciated.

Community members may drop donations off at the City Manager's Office inside Arcata City Hall, 736 F St. Arcata City Hall is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. (Donations of opened or partially used items, unclean goods and items not mentioned in the list above cannot be accepted.) Donations will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday.

For more information on making a donation, call 707822-5953 or email mhawk@ cityofarcata.org.