The Warrior Pantry at Lewis-Clark State College provides a safety net to students and staff members who may be experiencing hard times.
Located on the second floor of the Sam Glenn complex, the on-campus pantry offers food and hygiene products like toilet paper. Popular items include ramen and macaroni and cheese, but a plethora of fresh vegetables and fruits also is available.
The pantry has helped countless of individuals since its inception in fall 2017, organizers said.
“It’s really rewarding to see the impact it makes every day for people,” said pantry coordinator Julia Frey. She’s one of two AmeriCorps Vista members involved in the project, which is funded through a grant.
According to Frey, a student who was once a regular donor to the pantry fell upon hard times. Her husband was injured and had to take time off work.
“This kept her afloat,” Frey said. “She said ‘if it wasn’t for this pantry I wouldn’t have made it through break.’ ”
The pantry serves an average of 20 to 30 new users each month. On a monthly basis, there are around 235 visits, although that number is likely higher.
Students and staff who utilize the service do not need to provide income verification, but they are asked to swipe their LCSC cards to help organizers track the amount of visitors. Many people don’t sign in and instead grab a few items as they walk by the tables lined with goods.
About one-third of users report having children at home.
“There’s a lot of statistics that talk about food insecurity,” said Rebecca Fromdahl, LCSC’s service corps director. “It’s a reason why people leave schools.”
Students who pursue their higher education goals sometimes have to choose between paying the cost of school and buying groceries, she said.
According to Fromdahl, the money-saving strategies she used to get through college no longer work for the current generation. When she attended the University of Idaho, she had a summer job at the Red Lion. The money she made was enough to cover her tuition and more, Fromdahl said. But now the same job would only cover 65 percent of tuition, according to Fromdahl.
“Students are struggling with that,” she said. “This is one way we can help.”
Lewis-Clark State College is the first college or university in the state to partner with the Idaho Foodbank. The partnership supplies about 1,500 pounds of food per month at no cost to LCSC. As of Jan. 25, about 13,460 pounds of food had been picked up and distributed from the food bank, at an estimated value of $22,478, Fromdahl said.
Area schools have launched their own pantries, including Sacajawea Junior High School in Lewiston. The pantry operates in cooperation with Crosspoint Alliance Church.
“We do what we can to help everyone who asks,” Principal Phil Uhlorn said.
The Warrior Pantry is located in Room 203 in the Sam Glenn complex on the LCSC campus. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
How to help
The Warrior Pantry is in need of nonperishable food items like canned fruit, peanut butter, pasta sauce, canned soups, macaroni and cheese and pop top food items. To donate, drop off items at Room 203 of the Sam Glenn complex on the Lewis-Clark State College campus, 500 Eighth Ave., Lewiston. Donation boxes are also set up in the majority of buildings on campus. For more information, call (208) 792-2668 or email pantry@lcmail.lcsc.edu.
