By Chloe Wilhelm
Opinion Editor
Pacific Lutheran University’s food pantry is in need of students, not food.
Since its beginnings of October 2017, the pantry has provided a wide variety of non-perishable goods and healthy food options for PLU students who are in emergency situations and experiencing food insecurity. Hygiene kits are also been available for both men and women.
In a 2016 survey of over 1,000 students, nearly 13 percent said they have “experience food insecurity once in a while,” while three percent said they experienced it “a lot.” The number of students who had experienced housing insecurity was nearly 14 percent.
However, despite the need, the number of students who visit PLU’s food pantry is low: within the last year, around 25 students have visited the pantry. Because of this, there are excess donations from both PLU departments and individual donors.
Melannie Cunningham, director of Multicultural Outreach and Engagement, said she believes there are more people on campus who are experiencing food insecurity, and that the low involvement stems from both a lack of awareness and a resistance to depending on these types of resources.
“People have the mindset that they can tough it out, that there are people who are worse off,” Cunningham said. “There’s no reason to be ashamed for using the food pantry.”
She spoke of one former PLU student who was food insecure for 22 days out of the month, and used PLU’s food pantry when she didn’t have the necessary resources. Now, she has graduated and is a regular donor to the pantry.
Cunningham said that along with raising awareness of the pantry, the Campus Ministry office is also looking for volunteers who can help with the food pantry by ensuring that there is always someone there to assist those who come in.
The food pantry currently has no set hours, so student volunteers are needed to help provide assistance for those who need access to the food pantry. “If people have even an hour they can spare, [they] can study and serve at the same time,” Cunningham said.
Vice President of Student Life Joanna Royce-Davis spoke in support of the food pantry and the resources it provides for students. “Students who are well-fed are ready and available to learn,” she said. “Having this resource available is just as important as having great faculty, great facilities, and great services.”
Students who are experiencing food insecurity can visit the Campus Ministry office during regular business hours to get assistance. They can also get help outside of regular hours by contacting either their community director or commuter director. Both have access to the food pantry.
“We want to make sure people are getting healthy food [and] the resources they need,” Cunningham said. She encouraged students to get involved and visit the food pantry if they are in need of assistance. “The pantry is full and waiting for students to use it,” she said. “The door is always open.”
