Local food pantry resources: From on-campus to beyond
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Cheyenne DeMarco
The link to voting can be found through the link on their social media or from the QR code above.
Food pantries are vital resources for many nationwide and worldwide to get the proper food and supplies they need. While the surface title of these organizations might seem limiting, food pantries often offer many goods beyond just food for those in need. They can also provide supplies related to hygiene and everyday life, such as menstrual products, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and other similar items.
For some college students, the charity provided by those who donate, volunteer, and run these causes is the only way to ensure they have the materials and food they need to survive. Many college students struggle to make ends meet, and resources such as food pantries or thrift/discount stores can play a very important role in allowing these students to continue their college careers and doing so in a way that is safe, healthy, and conducive for them.
At SUNY Geneseo, we are lucky enough to have a campus-based food pantry service that is currently known as The Pantry at Geneseo. Through this resource, students in need can place orders through the organization's webpage on the larger Geneseo website, browse through current product availability, and find the necessary products they need. It often provides a variety of ready-made, pre-packaged, or canned items acquired through generous donations, on top of hygiene and sustainability items. This service is run by a handful of college staff with help from student volunteers, largely through the Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) program.
Another stellar feature of this service is found right in its mission statement: The Pantry at Geneseo seeks to “…provide students with food while preserving anonymity.” An unfortunate side of being an individual in need is that there is often a lot of felt societal shame about not being able to make ends meet; an emotional wellness step, then, that this service takes is trying to keep the identity of those who use this service private, as though not to ostracize or single-out those who require services like these to keep themselves well. While there should be no shame in needing a little help and charity, that is just not always believed or true in application, so things like fear of being identified as someone in need can keep people who need these services from using them.
To try and continue this goal while still making sure that supplies are being given to the correct person, upon picking up these requested items, students are just asked to have a “unique identifier” of their choosing so that staff know the correct person is getting their pick-up. Though upon initial submission of a request form, things like name and G number are asked for, it is assured that this information is only for college staff to see for the verification of enrollment process and is not shown to any of the student volunteers that help these services run.
Though the pantry has ceased taking request forms for the current semester as it begins to wind down, those interested in either acquiring their services or helping to volunteer at events when needed can stay up to date on the organization's activities through its Instagram and Facebook, which are both @thepantryatgeneseo. Alternative food pantry services that benefit the local community can also be found through the Geneseo-Groveland Emergency Food Pantry (GGEFP) and the Parish Outreach Center.
The Pantry at Geneseo is currently looking for feedback on new name options for the pantry, which include Knights Round Table, Knights Harvest, or Knights Necessities. Voting is open through the end of the semester, and the QR code attached to this article can be used to cast your vote. The link to vote can also be found on their social media pages.