March 18 was the West Texas A&M food pantry grand opening. Buffs Can is available for use by any WTAMU student that has need of it. The pantry will be open twice a week: Tuesdays from 11 to 4 and Fridays 12 to 5. Putting together this food pantry was the work of CORE and Student Government.
“I think it’s going really good,” Caleb Hubbard, junior communication major and Student Affairs Chairman in student government, said. “I’m happy to see the outcome of campus involvement.”
A fundraiser accompanied the opening of the pantry: Souper Tuesday. This once a month fundraiser asks students to donate two cans of food or $2 to the pantry in exchange for a bowl of soup. At the opening, some students donated that did not eat and many donated more than was asked. The next Souper Tuesday will be April 1.
“I think this is much needed and overdue,” Zack Wilson, Executive Director of the High Plains Food Bank, said. “I will definitely love to see this grow and meet the need.”
The High Plains Food Bank came out to support the opening of the Buffs Can food pantry. Aramark made a large donation of flour, peanut butter, different types of sugars, toothbrushes and toothpaste. The pantry is still in need of certain types of donations: canned fruits and protein. They can only accept nonperishable items. Other than food, the pantry accepts toiletries, baby formula and snacks.
“I think it will help alleviate some of the stress and help students focus more on school,” Casandra Ruiz, sophomore education major and CORE consultant, said.
This pantry is not meant as a grocery store, but as a way to help struggling students get by. It is to make sure that students get enough meals so that they can work and concentrate better both in and out of the classroom.
“I think there will be a barrier at first,” Leif Knippers, senior finance major, said.
The idea of this pantry began in the mind of Meredith Perdue, who is a senior nursing major. However, it took her a while to find the right people to talk to in order to get the pantry started.
“It is good for students to have close access to something like this,” Israel Rivera, junior business management major, said.
The pantry is currently in a temporary location: the old information booth area next to the CORE office. In the future, those who run the pantry will move it to a bigger location once it grows. CORE and student government hope that the pantry will be run and organized by various campus organizations.
