Wittenberg’s Campus Cupboard helps fight student food insecurity

A Wittenberg University initiative launched in 2018 is helping students in need on campus.

“We never want a student to worry about where their next meal is coming from because all that energy and stress is not being spent succeeding as a student,” Dan Jacob, ministry associate in the Pastor’s Office at Weaver Chapel said.

Campus Cupboard, a mini food pantry, was created after the Pastor’s Office, the Hagen Center, Urban Engagement and Student Development realized they were all working on solving the problem of food insecurity separately.

The organizations decided to come together and they now supply food and hygiene products to the Campus Cupboard, with the help of Wittenberg faculty and staff, Jacob explained.

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“It really is a whole campus effort to make sure no student ever goes hungry,” Jacob said.

The food pantry has non-perishable food items that are easy to prepare on campus as well as snacks for students on-the-go. Jacob said hygiene products were also added to make sure students feel comfortable and clean.

Students do not have to sign-in when they go to the food pantry — it is anonymous.

Jacob said because it’s anonymous, they do not know how many students use the food pantry, but based on inventory “a fairly good number of students do.”

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Currently, the food pantry is in need of cracker packets, mac-n-cheese, fruit cups, Chef Boyardee, and cereal. Hygiene products needed include deodorant, face wash, shampoo/conditioner, lotion, and powder.

“Anything that we can do to make sure students are thriving here is very important to us, that definitely includes food and hygiene,” Jacob said. “We don’t just want students to survive college, we want them to thrive here.”

Campus Cupboard is located at the base of Weaver Chapel steeple and is accessible through the doors near the library. The pantry is open from noon until 6 p.m. on Sunday’s and 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s.

For more information, search for Campus Cupboard - Wittenberg University on Facebook.

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