Food for the Flock: A Campus Resource Fighting Food Insecurity
Food for the Flock is an on-campus food pantry that has been helping the SU community since 2018. It offers non-perishable food items to students, staff, and faculty. You can visit the pantry outside the bookstore in the Guerreri Student Union once a week. Bring your SU ID, and you can fill two bags with food.
The pantry operates seven days a week and has dropped boxes around campus. These are located in Perdue Hall, Fulton Hall, Guerreri Academic Commons, and Conway Hall, as well as in the University Park Apartments Clubhouse.
In recent times, donations have shifted. Before, the pantry relied heavily on the Maryland Food Bank. Now, it depends more on community members and student organizations. Christine Nelson, Vice President of Food for the Flock, mentioned that many donations come from campus food drives.
Food drives play a vital role. The need for food support has increased. According to a 2022 survey by the Hope Center for College, more than 40% of college students experience food insecurity. This high number highlights the importance of pantries like Food for the Flock.
The pantry accepts a variety of items: canned goods, pasta, instant foods, peanut butter, jelly, and allergy-friendly options. Volunteers also make themed grab-bags each month to help provide a bit of variety.
The mission of Food for the Flock is clear: to reduce food insecurity on campus. Secretary Catie Egan wants to break the stigma associated with accepting food donations. She has heard that some students feel judged when they use the pantry. “Walking out with bags shouldn’t be embarrassing. We are here to help,” she says. “We have so many wonderful volunteers who are ready to support anyone in need.”
It’s important to recognize that needing assistance is part of life. As campus communities grow, resources like Food for the Flock become vital in supporting those who may otherwise go hungry.
For further details, you can learn more from the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice.
