The civic engagement food pantry on campus had a rocky transition this year. With the loss of administrators from the previous years, they were not able to open for students until now. But, as of today they have food for students and don’t plan to turn anyone away.
This is good news for a variety of students who expressed concern on Yik Yak and other social mediums about not being able to access the food on campus. One student reported woefully, “I’m hungry.”
But now that the pantry is back up they want students to know the current hours are Mondays and Thursdays from 2-4. During these hours hungry students can sign up and get food. All you need is a student ID and to sign a waiver. Once a week students can receive 10 items of nonperishable food, produce from the campus garden, and hygiene supplies.
For those wanting to donate food, it can be dropped off at the commuter resource center or to the food pantry in bottom of the Stevenson Union. Location bins are located around campus in academic support, the library, and the music building. The food pantry is looking for non-perishable items. Canned items, boxed meals, and hygiene products. Clubs can get involved by having a food-raiser. To do that just go to the civic engagement webpage and go to food pantry. Students can also get involved by helping out in the garden whenever possible.
While the food pantry being re-opened is welcome news for some, students looking for a free meal can also access it at several different places in the community. To find out where, you can grab a brochure outside of the food pantry. Among the options: Ashland has an emergency food bank. You must have an ID showing that you live in Ashland. It is open Monday thru Friday 9:30am-12:30pm. The Access organization helps to provide people with food, housing, and weatherization energy assistance. They are located at 3630 Aviation Way Medford, OR. Individuals and families can also apply for food stamps through Oregon DHS. As a student the requirement has changed that students must also have a job working twenty hours or more per week to qualify.
Here are a list of places that students can go to volunteer or get more information on finding food and supplies.
- Volunteer for any hunger or homeless related organization through the Civic Engagement Program: www.sou.edu/su/ce
- Visit Jackson County Non-profit website to get info on local organizations: www.jacjsoncountynonprofits.org
- Work with OSPIRG’s Hunger and Homeless organizing group, Friday Meetings @ 1:30 in the Stevenson union SOURS Leadership center.
