Food Pantry Needs Your Help as we Reopen for Fall 2019

08/07/19

Contributed by Doreen Hettich-Atkins

The Ithaca College food pantry had a fantastic trial run this Spring and Summer.  We were open twice per week from February through May and twice a week in the summer as well.  An average of 50 shoppers utilized the services each time the pantry was open.

Additionally, preliminary data indicates that students who utilized the food security services (on-campus pantry, mobile food pantry or the swipe out hunger program) persisted (returned for an additional semester) in a higher percentage that students who did not utilize the services.

Your generosity in February when we opened was overwhelming.  We would like to ask you to again open your wallets (or your cupboards) to assist us in fully stocking the pantry with nutritious food for the start of the Fall semester.  

To help us provide the most useful and most nutritious items to our community members in need, we are asking each department/school/unit for donations of specific items. Limited refrigeration and freezer space are available in the pantry, so please focus your donations on canned and non-perishable items. 

If you find it easier to make a financial contribution we now have the ability to accept those as well.  There's more information at the end of this posting about how to make a one-time or on-going financial contribution.

Contributions of food and supplies are being sought as follows:

If you would like to contribute but are unsure to which group you belong, you can bring donations that fit in any of the categories above to the Information Desk between today and August 30.  Our first opening date for the semester is August 30

Thank you in advance for your support in “kicking off’ the campus food pantry.  All donations are appreciated, and you can expect further communications throughout the year regarding the food pantry.

Volunteers are needed to staff the Pantry! It's a simple volunteer position - and will be one of the most rewarding things you spend time doing this semester.  Faculty, staff and students are welcome as volunteers.  We will provide all the training you need (which is minimal) . If you are interested, please go here to sign up.   

More information on IC's ongoing efforts to ensure food security can be found here.    

Ongoing support for the food pantry is always needed and appreciated.  If you are interested in making a gift to support Ithaca College in ensuring food security you can do so here. Under “Designation,” please indicate that you would like to “Give to area(s) of your choice,” and then specify “IC Fund to Address Food Insecurity.”      

Faculty and staff can also give via ongoing payroll deduction. Faculty and Staff should select "other" and then specify "IC Fund to Address Food Insecurity" to ensure that your gift is used in support of the Food Pantry.   

All gifts will be used to purchase food, personal care items, and other supplies needed by our campus community.   

Follow the IC Pantry on social media! Instagram: thepantryIC and Twitter: ICfoodpantry

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Student Affairs and Campus Life at studentaffairs@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-3374. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.

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