Pop-up food pantry opens

According to Christine Fullerton, Public Services Librarian, the idea for a pop-up food pantry was initiated by Stephanie Glass, who graduated in May. Fullerton, part-time library staff member Geoffrey Ledbetter, and Glass collaborated over winter break to revive the food pantry project that started as a Strategic Enrollment Management Plan project.

Forty-five bags of food will be available for students. Although students will be required to show their NUID cards and provide the number of people using the pantry bags, names will be kept confidential.

Bags will include three cans of vegetables, two cans of fruit, one can of spaghetti sauce, one package of spaghetti, one package of macaroni and cheese, one package of pasta or rice meal, one can of tuna, chicken, or other meat, two cans of beans, three cans of soup, two packages of ramen, one jar of peanut butter, and one box of cereal.

Students in Dr. Shaunda French-Collins’ Risk and Crisis Communication (CA 425) class have helped create marketing materials for the pop-up pantry, including announcements to be read during this weekend’s games, an email, and a graphic for the CSC Rewards app.

CSC’s Oxfam Banquet, started in 2015, served as a catalyst for the pantry. The banquet, presented by Event Planning and Leadership (CA 239), helped increase awareness about food insecurity, Fullerton said.

—Olivia Bryant, College Relations