USU Student Nutrition Access Center Launches Monthly Mobile Food Pantry to Support Student Wellness

Utah State University’s Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) has teamed up with the Utah Food Bank and Cache Community Food Pantry to introduce a mobile food pantry aimed at helping students and the wider community in Logan.

This mobile pantry will be open once a month from 9-10 a.m. at the Maverik Stadium parking lot, located off Lars Hansen Drive. Here are the first five dates:

• May 13
• June 10
• July 15
• Aug. 12
• Sept. 9

Dates will continue to fall on the second Tuesday after the first Monday of each month.

Kaiah Thomas, SNAC’s student co-director, explained that the initiative aims to support community members and students facing food insecurity by offering one box of perishable goods per household.

“Each box will include essential items like produce, dairy, eggs, and bread, which can be costly and hard to access for those in need,” Thomas shared. “This resource can significantly ease the burden for families.”

The mobile pantry will feature both a drive-up service, where volunteers load food directly into cars, and a walk-up service. It will be conveniently located near the Cache Valley Transit District Route 2 bus stop at 1111 N. 800 East. To receive food, attendees need to fill out a simple income verification form—no ID or additional documents are required.

The concept of the mobile pantry emerged from the Utah Food Bank in February, highlighting the growing need for food resources in the Cache Valley. This initiative not only opens a new location for distributing food but also focuses on perishable items that are often scarce.

For Thomas, this project serves as the capstone for her bachelor’s degree in dietetics. “We’re excited to get started,” she said. “We plan to visit a mobile pantry in Salt Lake to learn how they operate before launching ours. Organizing this event has been a rewarding challenge, and I can’t wait to see the positive impact it will have on the community.”

Statistics support this initiative. Recent data indicates that nearly 1 in 8 households in Utah face food insecurity, underscoring the need for such resources. By establishing this mobile pantry, USU and its partners aim to address these pressing issues in the community.

This collaborative effort not only reflects a commitment to food security but also fosters community spirit—a vital component in tackling challenges like hunger. As this project unfolds, it stands to be a beacon of hope for many.

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