Student success is paramount to Minnesota State University administrators Kelly Meier and Megan Heutmaker.
Both are major proponents in making the on-campus Maverick Food Pantry a reality. Meier said they take a 360 approach in supporting the students they work with, and food plays an important part in that.
Meier serves as assistant vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion. She said that while it’s a privilege to go to college, for some it’s a struggle.
“It’s noble that they want to persevere through that, and it’s also amazing that the institution wants to support that,” Meier said.
In a Sociology in Action course taught by Carol Glasser, a survey regarding food insecurity was conducted in 2018. Almost two-thirds of the students who participated were experiencing some level of food insecurity.
Heutmaker, director of American Indian affairs, said that data illustrated why the pantry was needed.
Along with taking out loans, Meier said students may be working a job — “or three jobs,” Heutmaker chimed in — all while figuring out how to eat. Some students may have families to support and may be doing so as a single parent.
If students forgo food to pay for other needs, that can lead to concerns with class attendance and studying.
While meal plans are required for residence hall students, not all plans provide for three meals a day. Those meal gaps, combined with potential transportation issues, can potentially pose a barrier.
The on-campus pantry, however, helps ensure food availability.
The project was given the green light in November 2020.
While the space was prepared for the pantry, individuals began work immediately by distributing food in the Multicultural Center to ensure availability during winter break.
Doors opened at the pantry’s current location in Carkoski Commons in January 2021. Since then, demand has increased dramatically.
In the beginning, Meier said they prepared 50 boxes of food. Now, the weekly average of food pantry visits is 300-400 students.
Earlier this month, they hit a record with 500 student visits in one week.
“The international student office, the diversity office and student government all help fund the pantry along with donations that we get,” Meier said.
“Second Harvest provides food banks across the area with low-cost, sometimes no-cost, food resources. This pantry serves the entire campus. There’s no qualification other than being a student, and we see across all demographics that we have students using the pantry.”
The pantry is open year-round and students living on and off campus can shop once per week. Besides offering non-perishables and personal care items, the pantry provides fresh and frozen items — something Heutmaker is especially proud of.
With the needs of college students in mind, the pantry offers some easy grab-and-go products, as well as ingredients to prepare a larger meal or to menu plan.
Badariah Umar is the food pantry’s student worker lead and said it’s impactful and changing students’ lives.
“And I can testify to that,” she said.
Along with providing her with employment, the pantry also has been a benefit in helping her make ends meet and access healthy options to cook, such as chicken and rice, and incorporating vegetables into her meals.
“It’s very rewarding seeing that students are really using this platform.”
A regular recipient voiced gratitude for having a pantry on campus.
“I visit almost every week for groceries,” said the student, who asked to not be identified.
“There’s so much good produce and a lot of meats and stuff that you can’t easily get outside of school here on low income.”
An effort is made to cater to all students by having culturally specific items on hand.
Sesame oil, coconut milk, varieties of spices and seasonings are ingredients that can be used for a wide variety of cooking.
“Culturally specific meat is always something that is definitely harder to have on hand and have on stock because there is a significant cost with that,” Heutmaker said.
Meier said the food offered is not frivolous but rather includes the staples needed to cook or make nutritious meals, and they are always keeping an eye on cost.
Coffee and tea can be harder to come by due to price. Those types of items are welcomed donations.
Heutmaker recalled receiving boxes of Girl Scout cookies at the end of cookie-selling season.
“Eyes lit up,” Meier said.
Both Heutmaker and Meier utilize their personal vehicles to pick up food donations at Cub Foods West through their partnership with Second Harvest or through South Central Minnesota Food Recovery.
“We’re professional packers now,” Heutmaker said with a laugh.
The two have found themselves in some interesting scenarios, such as middle-of-the-night alarms from a malfunctioning freezer or cooler, requiring them to move items to prevent spoilage.
They’ve also responded to spur-of-the-moment calls regarding food availability.
The two unloaded heavy pallets of chicken in freezing temperatures because, as Meier said, “That’s like gold.”
She added: “The most important thing is to get food in here and get food into the hands of students.”
Many students give back through volunteer work.
“There’s lots of organic things that pop up,” she said.
Volunteer groups, notably the track team this past fall, unload the truck every second and fourth Thursday morning of the month.
Students have completed service learning projects that benefit the pantry. That has included initiating an inventory management system and assisting with marketing.
Liz Steinborn-Gourley, director of MSU’s Women’s Center, started an on-campus garden.
Both staff and students grow the food that Meier said fuels the pantry’s summer offerings.
Retired MSU staff have knit and donated hats. Organizations have held food drives and reduced event admission costs upon donation of a non-perishable item.
“It’s become a community effort to support our students and to not just invest in feeding students but invest in civic engagement,” Meier said.
To learn more about the Maverick Food Pantry, including ways to volunteer and/or donate, visit mnsu.edu/university-life/campus-services/maverick-food-pantry/.