Campus food pantry assists students
When most students returned home to complete the spring semester remotely due to the coronavirus, many of those who remained on campus and in the community confronted the challenges of lost wages and difficulty in accessing food.
The Binghamton University Food Pantry continued to support many of these students and continues to operate through the summer months. Due to the increase in traffic and for the health of all involved, the Food Pantry moved to an online ordering and pick-up model in mid-April, allowing any student to place an order on the Food Pantry’s website once a week. Pantry staff then package the food and distribute bags to students for pick up at a prearranged time, twice a week.
Before the semester was completed, the pantry was assisting over 100 undergraduate and graduate students per week with food, household and hygiene items. Since June, the pantry is still assisting 40-50 students per week.
Said one student, “The food pantry has been literary a lifesaver for me. When the pandemic hit, I lost my campus job and my parents were also financially bashed. It was impossible to come up with money for tuition/rent/food, so I was very close to quitting my program and going home. Then the Food Pantry offered me help.” He added, “When I visited, I could not believe the quality of items given to me for free. The abundant and nutritious food, along with stationary/hygiene items, got me back on my feet. In the past few months in which I was continuously being helped, I got back on track toward my academic goal, and my physical/mental well-being is restored. I am deeply grateful to the Binghamton University Food Pantry.”
The success of the Food Pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic has been in large part thanks to the donations from diverse benefactors. Local restaurants and churches have offered support; faculty, staff, alumni and parents have provided money and goods; and students have donated leftover dining balances toward frozen meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products supplied by Binghamton University Dining Services. The student-run Off Campus College Council (OC3) even offered a co-sponsorship of $10,000 to the pantry that would have otherwise supported programming and events for students living off campus this spring.