The 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 pantry is ready to serve food security.
is a free resource for students and staff who require short-term help to meet their food needs. The pantry began operating in November, but celebrated its grand opening Thursday at 413 Brook Ave., inside the Intensive English Language building.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, used a pair of oversized ceremonial scissors to slice a specially made paper ribbon depicting crossed forks and knives to signal that the Cupboard was open 小蝌蚪APP officially 小蝌蚪APP for business.
小蝌蚪APP淔ood security is a student success issue. It小蝌蚪APP檚 a retention issue, and a quality of life issue, and one that helps students succeed at greater rates,小蝌蚪APP Savoie said.
小蝌蚪APP淪tudents who seek food assistance come from every walk of life, every type of family, and every financial situation. They all deserve help. That小蝌蚪APP檚 what a family does. That小蝌蚪APP檚 what this Campus Cupboard does as well.小蝌蚪APP
After the ceremony, visitors toured the Cupboard. Some peered into two storage rooms where canned goods and other nonperishables sat in orderly rows atop a series of chrome-plated steel shelves. There were tooth brushes, sticks of deodorant and other toiletries stored there as well. Like food items, the hygiene products are free to pantry customers.
Dr. Pearson Cross, associate dean of the , pointed at a side-by-side upright cooler 小蝌蚪APP emblazoned with the iconic Coca-Cola logo 小蝌蚪APP inside one of the rooms. The company donated the refrigerator to Campus Cupboard; it will enable the pantry to offer fresh food items in addition to nonperishables, Cross said.
小蝌蚪APP淭his donated cooler is indicative of what小蝌蚪APP檚 driven this project from the beginning 小蝌蚪APP community support. We have partners throughout Lafayette and Acadiana, and Campus Cupboard would not exist without members of the 小蝌蚪APP family who also saw a need and were determined to meet it.小蝌蚪APP
Cross chaired a committee that began planning the Cupboard in late 2017. The panel小蝌蚪APP檚 members included representatives from the , , the Division of Student Affairs, the and offices, and other administrative units and academic departments.
Community partners include Second Harvest Food Bank, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and Sodexo. United Way of Acadiana, another partner, recognized the Campus Cupboard last month with its Luminary Award.
The honor 小蝌蚪APP渋s given to an organization or coalition that lights a new path in giving, advocating or volunteering,小蝌蚪APP said Margaret H. Trahan, United Way小蝌蚪APP檚 president and CEO. 小蝌蚪APP淭he award recognizes creative approaches and solutions.小蝌蚪APP By creating the pantry, the 小蝌蚪APP 小蝌蚪APP渄emonstrated what proactive compassion can create,小蝌蚪APP she added.
Since its soft launch in November, Campus Cupboard has helped a monthly average of 50 clients, and distributed an estimated 3,400 items, Cross said. Many items were collected through food drives or individual donations.
Dr. Rose Honegger, UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 , served on the planning committee. She noted that hunger is a challenge every community confronts.
A 2016 national report indicated about 22 percent of college students in the United States go hungry at some point in the semester. More than 500 American universities and colleges, including several in Louisiana, offer students and staff food assistance.
小蝌蚪APP淭his need is not just local and not just on our campus. It小蝌蚪APP檚 on all college campuses, and it小蝌蚪APP檚 heartbreaking to see,小蝌蚪APP Honegger said.
Students who face food insecurity tend to choose innutritious options that often cost less than healthier fare, Honegger noted. They小蝌蚪APP檙e also more likely than peers to skip, fall behind in or drop courses.
小蝌蚪APP淚t小蝌蚪APP檚 difficult to concentrate on an essay when you小蝌蚪APP檙e hungry,小蝌蚪APP she said.
Dr. Margarita Perez, the , echoed Honegger小蝌蚪APP檚 sentiments. She was also a planning committee member.
小蝌蚪APP淲hen students are hungry, when they don小蝌蚪APP檛 have what they need, they can小蝌蚪APP檛 concentrate and they can't be learners. Campus Cupboard is one way among many ways that we can ensure our students get to graduation,小蝌蚪APP Perez said.
Campus Cupboard is open twice weekly, from 2-5 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays. .
Photo caption: UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 Campus Cupboard held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday to mark its grand opening. From left are Trey Delcambre, a graduate student who manages the food pantry; Dr. Joseph Savoie, 小蝌蚪APP president; Chandler Harris, Student Government Association president; Patricia Cottonham, vice president for Student Affairs; Dr. Pearson Cross, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts; and Dr. Margarita Perez, dean of students. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 小蝌蚪APP)