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This April, �ؾ��� continued its commitment to educational accessibility by significantly expanding the . Located in Laker Union, the service provides free food items and hygiene products to �ؾ��� students who do not have access to a campus meal plan or do not have the financial means for a nutritionally rich diet. The pre-existing pantry space, which is located in WB318 and stores non-perishable items, is now complemented by an additional location in Laker Union that houses several refrigerators for perishable food such as milk, eggs and fresh produce. The expansion was commemorated with a ribbon cutting by Dean of Students Corey Williams and remarks from project supervisor Larniecia Smith.

“Over the past academic year, we’ve been working towards building capacity for our resources on campus,” Smith said. “The expanded Laker Union Pantry is a way I hope we can collectively bridge the need gap that many of our students face so they can focus on their path to graduation.”

Since joining �ؾ���’s Division of Student Affairs in the role of AmeriCorps VISTA, Smith identified a significant student population that did not have consistent access to food and household products because they lived off-campus or lacked financial and transportation resources to create a consistent diet. 

“We have many students here at �ؾ��� who are attending from another country or face a living situation where obtaining food isn’t always possible,” says Smith. “We wanted to bolster what Student Affairs could offer them so that these students could focus on their studies instead of where their next meal will come from.”

Over the course of this academic year, Smith was able revitalize the pantry after a Covid-induced slowdown by solidifying �ؾ���’s relationship with the Greater Chicago Food Depository to assure a steady supply of food products for students and utilizing funds from an ESHI (End Student Housing Insecurity) grant provided by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. With these funds, the pantry now carries an expanded roster of meal items like macaroni & cheese or ramen that can be made using only a microwave in addition to products for students with young children such as baby wipes and body wash. Today, the service assists hundreds of Lakers over the course of a semester.

Smith also significantly expanded the pantry’s roster of student volunteers, who are committed to assisting less-fortunate students and the University’s mission of service.

“I wanted to have a direct impact my fellow students and make sure they have access to a healthy lifestyle so that they can focus on academics,” says volunteer Alfredo Guzman. “Nobody should have to always answer the question of how they’re going to eat, and the pantry complements a food supply in a way our dining services necessarily can’t.”

Students interested in using the Laker Union Pantry can view the service’s complete online menu or scan the pantry’s QR code to fill out an intake form for up to 10 items per week. Once students fill out their list, they can stop by the pantry during operating hours to pick up their basket. In addition to food, students can also order essentials such as laundry detergent, toothbrushes, sunscreen and feminine hygiene products.