Pantry helps feed college students, staff - Record-Courier

Pantry helps feed college students, staff - Record-Courier
By Briana BarkerReporter

A new study released by Wisconsin HOPE Lab shows 36 percent of college students are food insecure and Kent State students and staff are no exception. 

Researchers define food insecurity as "the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially acceptable manner."

The study, "Still Hungry and Homeless" is a follow up to the a survey released last year called "Hungry and Homeless in College." Both studies conducted by Temple University and the Wisconsin HOPE Lab were led by Sara Goldrick-Rab. The report was the result of a survey of more than 43,000 students from 66 institutions across 20 states and the District of Columbia. Ohio University was the only Ohio college to participate in the study.

According to the HOPE Lab report, more than half of the students were employed, with 67 percent of community college students versus 59 percent of students at a four-year university. Additionally, 87 percent of university students were full-time students, while 57 percent of community college students surveyed were full-time students. 

Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, Kent State Women’s Center Director who oversees the university’s food pantry, said she doesn’t have any hard and fast statistics for Kent State because the pantry strives to allow patrons to remain anonymous. However a dissertation authored by Dr. Jennifer King in May 2017 asked 4,188 Kent State students about food insecurity. About 36 percent of the students were found to be food insecure. According to King’s research, food insecurity was at its highest among female students — approximately 69 percent with nearly 85 percent between the ages of 18 to 24. 

"There is a misconception because we are the Women’s Center that the food pantry is not for men, but actually about 30 percent of the people who come in are men," Pegg-Kirby said. 

She added that students are not the only clients. She has seen faculty and staff members who may have the expense of childcare over the summer who need the extra help to make ends meet. 

The food pantry, located in the Williamson House, which now serves as the Women’s Center, is open to all students, faculty and staff in need. The pantry will provide one to three days of food staples such as canned fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, tuna, and more for visitors with a Kent State ID card. Pegg-Kirby said the pantry is meant to be a stop-gap but not a full-time food source, though the center can help direct clients to other means of assistance. 

The Campus Kitchen partners with the campus food pantry every Thursday to help provide fresh fruits and vegetables to those who come to the pantry.

Pegg-Kirby said she estimates the pantry serves about 10 to 15 people per week, but the pantry is underserving the Kent State community because they are in need of donations. She added the need "has consistently increased and has doubled since we moved into this new space two years ago."

The Kent State pantry is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. year round as long as the university is open. According to the website, campus community members may use the food pantry once per month. If a student needs the pantry more than one time per month, the student must have a faculty or staff referral or make an appointment with Cassandra Pegg-Kirby, cpeggkir@kent.edu or call 330-672-9230. Donations can be dropped off at the Women’s Center. 

Kent State Stark campus also has a food pantry for its students, staff and faculty who may need a hand up. The hours for the Stark campus pantry are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer hours will be Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Reporter Briana Barker can be reached at 330-541-9432, bbarker@recordpub.com or @brianabarker1.