As Samford University continues to make strides to improve campus life and student success, the recent addition of a food pantry located on Central Campus has captured the attention of students, faculty and staff.
In 2021, the university participated in a national survey that was sent out campus-wide in order to assess the possible impacts of food insecurities on students. This survey revealed that more than 30% of students suffer from this insecurity and voiced their concerns on how it was affecting them.
According to Edumed.org, “Nearly 40% of college students have experienced food insecurity, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from. That means in a college class of 30 students, 12 of them may not know when – or if – they’ll eat that day.”
In order to combat this and prevent students from falling victim to hunger, the food pantry, temporarily located in Dwight Beeson Hall, is now able to serve as a resource for any student in need.
The collaborative project is primarily headed by the Cares Team with active involvement of Samford’s Legacy League. Students will find a room fully stocked by faculty and staff.
“The food pantry exists to help students who are working hard to be good stewards of their resources and opportunities but they’re just falling short, and we want to make sure that food is not the thing that they sacrifice,” said April Robinson, Assistant Vice President for Student Development and Support.
Although the pantry operates normally, the one requirement students have to fulfill is to complete a ‘Student Emergency Assistance Form,’ which can be found on the university’s website under the Cares Team section. From there, students can schedule an appointment to come shop for a total of 12 to 15 items related to their needs.
Upon walking into the room, students are met by a representative of the pantry and items such as fruit cups, rice, prepackaged pasta, protein options, oatmeal and a variety of other things that are college friendly. Although the pantry is stocked for its recent debut, the resource is open to suggestions in order to serve the community better.
In addition, the pantry will also house recipes provided by nutrition students on campus and informational steps on how to inquire about food stamps and other nutritional resources.
In the future, students can expect more changes for the pantry and a permanent location soon to come. If you are a student suffering from food insecurities, reach out to the coordinator of the Cares Team, April Robinson, at alrobins@samford.edu, so that they can properly assist you. If you are interested in getting involved or donating to the pantry, contact Hannah Newman at Hnewman@samford.edu. Links: Student Support | Samford University
