NATCHEZ — The smell of pancakes and sausage wafted through the air of the W. L. Nelson Multi-Purpose Room at Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Natchez Campus, where the staff gathered for its annual back-to-school session recently.

Nearby, in the kitchen, were Co-Lin administrators flipping flapjacks and stacking sausages to feed to the campus staff. Among the cooks were Dr. Howell C. Garner, Co-Lin president; Dr. Ronnie Nettles, Co-Lin executive vice president; Bill Salters, president of the Co-Lin Foundation Board of Trustees; Teresa Harrison, dean of the Natchez campus; Andrew Calvit, a member of the foundation board, and Dr. Stephanie Duguid, assistant dean for career and technical education at the Natchez campus.

The occasion was the kick-off of the Natchez campus’ Employee Participation Program in the Co-Lin Foundation, the non-profit, private arm of Co-Lin. College leaders asked each of the full- and part-time employees to contribute to the foundation. As of late August, 71 percent of the Co-Lin Natchez work force had pledged contributions.

“The faculty and staff at Co-Lin Natchez are always striving to find ways to improve the learning process for all students,” Harrison said. “They attend conferences, peer group meetings and so forth but funds are not always available to assist with the expenses associated. This will provide a fund for those needs. Also, we often have students with special financial needs who might not be able to remain enrolled without our help. This will allow us to assist them in reaching their goals.”

“There are so many needs out there (on our campus) that aren’t covered by the state budget,” said Charlotte Hill, executive director of the Co-Lin Foundation.

She said the foundation periodically seeks contributions from businesses and business leaders, but that Co-Lin employees’ contributions will make it easier to ask for outside help.

“We realize that support begins at home, and it really does,” Hill said.

Money in the fund will be used in a variety of ways, principally to help needy students, fund all or part of faculty and staff development programs, travel for professional activities, and other needs that normally aren’t paid for with traditional college operating money.

“Some employees are giving a monthly allotment while others have given a one-time gift,” Harrison said. “Any way employees decide to contribute is a bonus for Co-Lin Natchez. We thank them all.”