Read more about the pantry in the latest issue of "CATALYST" magazine.
Students at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) have been hit by an economic double whammy over the past two years. The COVID-19 pandemic and a big spike in inflation have caused angst for many students who are trying to study, make ends meet, and put food on their table.
TJ Park, a Doctor of Nursing Practice student at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON), has felt the pandemic/inflation squeeze, which has increased his feelings of food insecurity.
“I’m definitely more stressed out about how much I spend on my groceries due to inflation,” Park said. “Whenever I see empty sections in the grocery aisle, I’m concerned about whether I am going to have access to food.”
To help combat food insecurity on campus, the Division of Student Affairs launched the UMB Student Pantry in 2021 to provide food to students regardless of need. The pantry is located in the Student Affairs Suite on the third floor of the SMC Campus Center.
To deliver food and spread awareness about its services, the Student Pantry has held “pop-up” events around UMB since September 2021. About 50 bags were handed out Feb. 23 at UMSON, March 16 and April 5 at the SMC Campus Center, and April 13 at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
At a typical pop-up pantry, students are greeted with friendly hellos and the chance to take home a bag of food items. The large, eco-friendly bags donated by IKEA have been filled with cans of tuna, crackers, boxes of raisins, water bottles, and fruit cups. Specialty bags also have been created and distributed — for example, meal kits containing the ingredients to make a pasta dish. Through corporate partnerships, the pantry also offers items from Baltimore businesses such as olive oil from Pompeian, sugar from Domino, and spices from McCormick.