Florida State University Libraries, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, the Food for Thought Pantry and Sustainable Campus, recently unveiled the inaugural permanent food donation bin in the Paul Dirac Library lobby during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Food for Thought Pantry, which relies entirely on donations from various sources including Second Harvest of the Big Bend, plays a crucial role in supporting students facing food insecurity. As the number of students utilizing this resource continues to rise, the university is exploring alternative and effective ways to sustain and assist in this vital service.
Gale Etschmaier, dean of FSU Libraries, expressed support for the new donation bin initiative, highlighting its potential to make a significant impact on the local community.
“We are thrilled to introduce a permanent food donation bin at Dirac,” Etschmaier said. “This is the second food donation bin at FSU Libraries; the first was installed at Strozier in April, a testament to our commitment to supporting students facing food insecurity. This initiative underscores the power of community and the importance of sustainable support systems.”
During the 2023-2024 academic year, the Pantry recorded 18,203 student contacts, with nearly 88% of these interactions occurring through main Pantry visits. The Pantry also organized six mobile distribution events across campus, dining hall meal swipe donation distributions, a hurricane preparation distribution and Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) workshops.
In total, 3,239 unique students accessed Pantry services last school year, which includes summer 2023, fall 2023 and spring 2024. This marks a significant increase of nearly 58% from the previous academic year.
This month, FSU’s Food for Thought Pantry is participating in a competition with UF’s Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry where each type of donation item is assigned a point value. At the end of the Chop & Chomp Food Drive on Nov. 26, the inventories will be totaled based on the point system and the school with the most points will be declared the winner.
“We know from research that food insecurity can have detrimental effects on student well-being and academic success,” said Food for Thought Pantry Program Manager, Haley Gentile. “The Chop & Chomp Food Drive channels friendly competition with the University of Florida into our shared mission to reduce food insecurity on our campuses.”
The Pantry’s fall hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The facility is closed on weekends and university holidays. Any alterations to standard hours are advertised in the Pantry and on the Pantry’s social media pages.
For more information on how to donate to the Food for Thought Pantry, visit dsst.fsu.edu/foodpantry/donations.