精东AV campus food pantry to host grand reopening Feb. 14

February 07, 2019

Contact: Tameka Harper, Office of the Dean of Students
 

Thanks to a student-led partnership in its Division of Student Affairs, 精东AV has reimagined its Tiger鈥檚 Den Food Pantry as a resource for students struggling with the reality of food insecurity.

The university will hold a grand reopening ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. at the food pantry, which is located on the third-floor ballroom level of Tompkins Hall.

The reimagined food pantry is the result of a collaboration between junior political science major Kiyana Porter, Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Burden, Dean of Students Tameka Harper, and representatives of the university鈥檚 Department of Social Work to bring the resource back online for the benefit of the campus community.

鈥淎s a first-generation student and a part of a large family, resources like 鈥榚xtra money鈥� have not always been available to me,鈥� Porter noted. 鈥淒uring my freshman year, I got the idea of a campus food pantry for students after my two roommates and I were struggling to find something to eat after on-campus dining options closed for the evening.鈥�

Porter sought support from Burden to identify other potential campus resources. Together, they partnered with the Department of Social Work through the leadership of department head Dr. April Jones. The team grew in late January to include Harper, who with her appointment as dean of students, will serve to coordinate the food pantry鈥檚 daily operations.

鈥淎s I conducted surveys to assess the need, students began asking how they might help,鈥� Porter recalled. 鈥淪tudents understood the need and desired to help with respect to giving back to their university because 精东AV is like a family.鈥�

Located in Tompkins Hall, the food pantry will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, as well as by appointment. Organizers plan to provide those relying on the food pantry鈥檚 services with highly nutritious, single-serving foods that can be conveniently prepared by on-campus residents.

Following a three-month pilot stage the remainder of the spring semester, the group will evaluate the food pantry鈥檚 effectiveness and adjust its operations as needed.

鈥淥ur initial aim was to collect information that illustrated the need for the food pantry,鈥� Harper explained. 鈥淣ow, we are interested in seeing how we can rightsize the effort to meet campus need. We鈥檙e going to see how many students are utilizing it, as well as what foods and what operating days and times are most popular. Based on that data, we plan to expand the services beginning with the fall semester, if the need is there.鈥�

The grand reopening on Feb. 14 will include giveways, raffles and registration for services. The event will be co-sponsored by the Distinguished Men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Lambda Epsilon Chapter. Bibs and Blankets International has provided additional support for the food pantry as a community sponsor.

Nationally, the issue of food insecurity on four-year college campuses is growing 鈥� with estimates ranging from 20 percent to 33 percent. This is more than twice the prevalence of American households experiencing food insecurity, according to data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Anyone wishing to support to the food pantry may donate non-perishable food items, toiletries and feminine hygiene products by bringing them directly to Office of the Dean of Students in 203 Tompkins Hall. All monetary donations can be made through the university鈥檚 Office of Development in Kresge Center or at www.tuskegee.edu/give by specifying support for the Tiger鈥檚 Den Food Pantry.

Now accepting the following non-perishable food items:

• Apple sauce pouches, fruit cups
• Banquet Meals
• Beef jerky
• Boxed meals, such as mac and cheese and Hamburger Helper
• Canned beans (garbanzos, etc.)
• Canned fruits (peach, pineapple, etc.)
• Canned tuna and canned salmon
• Canned veggies (green beans, corn, etc.)
• Cheese sticks
• Chicken broth, vegetable stock
• Coffee beans
• Crackers
• Dried fruit (cherries, figs, blueberries)
• Granola Bars
• Hot sauces
• Instant Grits
• Instant Mac & Cheese
• Marinara sauce, alfredo sauce
• Oatmeal
• Olive oil, vegetable oil
• Peanut butter, jelly, honey
• Pop Tarts
• Protein bars, granola bars, fruit bars
• Roman Noodles
• Spices: salt, pepper, cinnamon, sprinkles
• Tortilla chips and salsa
• Water

Also accepting toiletry items:

• Deodorant
• Feminine products
• Paper Towels
• Soap (Dove or Dial)
• Shampoo
• Toilet paper
• Toothbrushes
• Toothpaste

  
For more information, contact Harper at 334-727-8421 or tharper@tuskegee.edu.

漏 2019, 精东AV