Earlier this semester, the Student Food Pantry announced it was experiencing a food shortage due to increased student enrollment. However, the pantry has planned the “Fueling Futures: Every Dollar Feeds a Mustang” fundraiser for the holidays.
Student food pantry Student Programs Assistant Valerie Valera organized the Fueling Futures food drive, which launched Nov. 1. The fundraiser’s goal is to raise $5,000 to help students with consistent access to food by Dec. 31.
“We recently launched our Fueling Futures campaign to address two main goals,” said Valera. “Our wishlist and food donations are intended to help us currently stock shelves, while the PayBee donation link is set up to fund the Spring semester and serve as an emergency reserve. With a sudden influx of students this semester, these donations will ensure we can keep up with demand.”
Every week, from Tuesdays to Thursdays the food pantry struggles to keep stock, with their monthly budget being $5,000. Where perishable items cost $1,000. This fall semester, the food pantry has served over 1,425 students and weekly visits of 600 returning students, according to their Instagram post on Nov. 1.
“We’ve had a handful of students and alumni reach out about coordinating donation drop-offs in the coming week, so it’s been great to see the community’s support for the pantry,” said Valera.
Anyone can donate to the food pantry. The pantry’s Amazon wishlist is linked on its website, DeltaCollege.edu/FoodPantry.
The pantry is accepting donations of food such as cereal, boxed dinner, dry beans/pasta, canned goods, juice, food spreads and shelf-stable milk. Donation bins are located on campus in several locations: first floor of the Goleman Library, Delta Connect Center, Dreamers Success Center, Bookstore, Student Life Office, Math and Science tutoring center and the Student Food Pantry.
With grocery inflation, some students still struggle with food insecurity. However, students express their gratitude for what the pantry offers.
“I’m thankful for the food pantry,” said first semester Delta student Sophia Rios. “Groceries are really expensive and I struggle as a single mom. Coming to Delta I learned about the basic needs program and they offer so much and they mentioned the food pantry.”
