As grocery prices continue to rise, this semester, food shortages have become a challenge at the Delta Student Food Pantry.
“Due to high student demand and limited stock, we are unable to provide identical items during this visit,” read signs in the pantry’s windows throughout September.
Earlier this semester, campus Wi-Fi issues slowed the processing of student applications. Currently, the pantry struggles with food shortages due to inflation and the increase of students.
Valerie Valera is the acting Student Programs Assistant at the Student Food Pantry. She oversees and coordinates student applications, budgets, inventory, shipment and fundraising.
“Due to the increase of students utilizing the pantry this semester, including both regular and Middle College students,” said Valera. “We’ve been serving 600 students each week, with around 300 coming in on Tuesdays alone.”
According to Valera, last semester the number of students fluctuated every week. However, in Spring at least 300 students would visit every week. Currently, it’s 600 a week. Including, Middle College students have also been using the food pantry, where the numbers also increased this semester.
“We don’t want to limit the number of students. Many students are dealing with food insecurity and inflation, it’s been a challenge. Even for us, with food prices going up, we can’t always get what students ask for,” said Valera.
The food pantry’s budget is $5,000 a month to spend and perishable items — such as milk and eggs — are about $1,000 alone. Valera is trying to find ways to help the pantry’s budget stretch further.
“I’ve reached out to Grocery Outlet and Sprouts. I applied for the Sprouts grant and the Save Mart grant, but we won’t know anything until next year,” said Valera.
First-year Delta student, Ajanae Ferguson, comes once a week to the food pantry. The limited stock doesn’t phase her, she’s always grateful for what they offer.
“It’s understandable about the limited stock,” said Ferguson. “They’re offering to a big collective of people and they don’t always have what people want. But I’m grateful for what they have, full stock or not.”
More students express their appreciation for grocery support. First-semester Delta student Crystal Ortega is thankful for the support of Delta’s food pantry and basic needs program offers.
“In the beginning of the semester, I was low on groceries and didn’t know how to get a bus pass,” said Ortega. “Someone told me to go to basic needs and they were extremely helpful. They told me about the student food pantry. I’m grateful for what Delta has to offer.”
Next month, the food pantry is having a fundraiser campaign to help address the food shortage. They’re asking for help with donations and financial contributions to support their operations.
The student food pantry has been open since March of 2019. Their mission is to help students with food insecurity and lack of income. It’s open to currently enrolled Delta students and requires an application to access.
For updates, follow their Instagram @sjdcfoodpantry.
