Last year, the PNW Food Pantry served over 100 students a month. This year, the number may double.
“I bet we could be close to a couple hundred students a month using the pantry, so it’s a real need that we need to get addressed soon for these students,” said Scott Iverson, assistant vice chancellor of Housing and Student Life, who oversees the Food Pantry.
With more students using the pantry, he said it is crucial that the food supply does not run out. The pantry last ran out of food in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had no food because we gave every last bit we had,” Iverson said. “We bagged it all up and gave it to people, and we just did another drive. We keep relying on the community.”
While the Food Pantry has better access to food now due to its partnership with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, it is still difficult to keep up with increasing demand. Last January, the Chancellor’s Cup Challenge generated donations of almost three and a half tons of high-demand items. While that may seem like a lot, it did not last long.
“Three and a half tons of food doesn’t go very far,” said Iverson. “You might think it does, but it really doesn’t. I said to people, ‘This is going to barely last us the semester,’ and sure enough by the beginning of summer we were out of food.”
Because of the increasing number of students being served, continuous donations are essential for the pantry’s operation.
A federal study this year found that 3.8 million – or about 1 in four college students – may experience food insecurity.
Some students may not realize PNW is trying to help fight the problem.
“I was not aware that PNW had a food pantry,” said freshman Cynthia Ortiz. “I think it’s really important for students who may not have the ability to purchase food, but I have not donated yet.”
To increase donations and awareness of the Food Pantry, the university is hosting events like Pasta-Palooza, an effort to collect a half ton of dry pasta. If the goal is met, Iverson will dye his hair any color the Food Pantry Committee chooses.
He said that he’s willing to put his hair on the line if it gets more people to donate.
“It’s for the students,” said Iverson. “That’s why I do this and that’s why we run the pantry. It’s for the students.”
