b'Stories of HopeShiv was among the many recipients of food at the Bristol Community College Mobile Market run by GBFB. He also volunteered at the market, helping distribute food to fellow students and members of the community. Your Support = Academic AchievementsShiv emigrated from Nepal to America five years ago,students reported some degree of food insecurity. To as a teenager, alone, unable to speak any English. Hehelp these students, GBFB runs farmers market-style began working at a gas station in Fall River when adistributions every month at five community colleges, faculty member from nearby Bristol Community Collegewhere each attendee can take home 30 to 35 pounds (BCC) told him about English classes offered at the school. of nutritious food, including meats, dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables. While at BCC, Shiv received food from the on-campus Mobile Market run by The Greater Boston Food BankThe first thing I noticed when I got to the market was (GBFB). Now pursuing his degree in chemical engineeringhow much variety there was, Shiv said. Cauliflower, from Northeastern University, Shiv credits BCC and GBFBtomato, onions, rice, I was able to make Nepalese food, with helping him succeed. like vegetable biryani, with what I got.Shiv also volunteered at the market, helping sort anddistribute food to the hundreds of other people going to It was a tough time for me. It wasthe market every month. According to Shiv, the people he met and worked alongside at BCC are like a family hard to adjust. I have no family here;to him. all my family is back in Nepal.It was a tough time for me. It was hard to adjust. I have - Shiv no family here; all my family is back in Nepal, he said.Shiv graduated from BCC in 2018 and received a The market helped me a lot. It gave me a weeks worthscholarship to pursue a bachelors degree in chemical of food, sometimes more, Shiv said. Its hard to be a full- engineering and a masters degree in engineering time student and save money because you have tomanagement at Northeastern.buy books, clothes, pay rent.Someday I want to open my own business and do According to a recent Massachusetts Department ofsomething to help society here in the United States Higher Education study, 44 percent of community collegeand back in Nepal too, he said.3'