The PLU Pantry has been a community resource at PLU since pre-Covid times—offering free food to 450+ combined students, staff, and faculty during the fall of 2023. Located on the ground floor of AUC, the Pantry is expected to continue serving people who need it.
Student Care Network Manager Susan Pavur oversees the Pantry with four student workers. Pavur empathizes that “food insecurity is really hard” and tries to supply proteins and carbs that are approachable for college students to cook on their own.
“The food is donated by Northwest Harvest. We get deliveries on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month…we restock throughout the week periodically,” shared Pavur. Students can visit the Pantry at any time by calling Campus Safety to let them in, and they are encouraged to take as much as they need choosing from pasta, grains, condiments, canned and frozen foods.
South Hall pantry was closed this year because “students were taking multiple of things and not leaving food for the other students,” shared Pavur. Other suggested locations for those in need were Trinity Lutheran Church and “Nurish Food Trunk that comes every Tuesday on the corner of 166th and Pacific Ave.” Another option would be attending community meals set up by PLU Pantry and Trinity Lutheran Church every month.
Anna Haneda, a first-year international student, commented that PLU Pantry has “more [items] than I expected,” even though it would not replace a grocery trip for her. Haneda adds that she is planning on visiting the Pantry more often because “it is there for people to access” and “I don’t think [anyone] needs to be embarrassed about [using it].”
The Pantry stays open throughout the summer, although it doesn’t get restocked. Pavur emphasized, “The pantry is for anybody on campus. It doesn’t matter who you are – faculty, staff, students. Whoever needs to use it, please use it.”
