JTAC News (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Page: 4 of 8
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JTACNEWS.COM * Tarleton State University * Wednesday October 11,2017
NEWS
Tarleton Food Pantry moves downstairs in the TSC
Francisco Castro
Contributor
sw_castro@tarleton.edu
On Aug. 7, 2015, the Tarleton State
University Food Pantry opened its
doors for the first time, with a mission
to provide assistance to students who
may have difficulty buying nourishing
food, allowing them to stay enrolled and
succeed academically.
Two years later, the Food Pantry has
received a major upgrade in its capability
to serve the Tarleton Family. With the
recent changes in the Barry B. Thompson
Student Center, the Tarleton Food Pantry
has been relocated to Room 12.
Moving into a new room was a huge
blessing, according to Chair of the Food
Pantry Committee, Caleb Chapman.
“The initial location on the main floor
was a shared space between food pantry
and an office area, so it was inconvenient
for the people who worked there,”
Chapman said. “We were grateful to have
that space, but when the opportunity
came for us to be able to move down to
that other area we definitely jumped at
that opportunity because it provided a
little more privacy, easier access and it
was larger.”
In the past, the Food Pantry was only
open three days a week, 2-3 hours a day.
“Now, it’s accessible through card
swipe access, so students can just request
to have access to the food pantry, and can
access it anytime the [Student Center] is
open,” Chapman said.
Students can request access online at
www.tarleton.edu/foodpantry. By filling
out an online form, which only asks for
a UID number, students will be able to
swipe into the Food Pantry, much like one
would swipe into a Resident Hall.
“[The Food Pantry staff] can take [the
UID number] and enter it into the system
to allow their card to work. We’re not
collecting names, we’re not collecting any
of that confidential information in order
to give students more privacy,” Chapman
said.
Not only do students who use the
Food Pantry get a new experience,
students who wish to volunteer their
time at the Food Pantry will now have the
opportunity to do so.
“We’re shifting to a very student
based volunteer system. In the past, it
was a lot of faculty and staff, which we
were very appreciative for. It was nice
to have that kind of support from the
Tarleton Professional Staff Community,”
According to Erin Warner, Volunteer
Coordinator for the Tarleton Food Pantry
Committee. “However, we wanted to be
a more student ran, student focused,
student led initiative.”
With such a vision on mind, a student
based system looks different because
student schedules are different.
“Most professionals are 8-5
professionals, so they can volunteer on
their lunch break or they can work with
their supervisor to volunteer.”
Despite the difference, Warner intends
to establish that system to allow every
student an opportunity to volunteer if
they wish to do so.
Students who are interested in
volunteering in the Food Pantry can
e-mail Warner at ewarner@tarleton.edu.
Students who volunteer are expected
to commit themselves to their shift, stock
shelves, clean, inform the committee
of any shortages of items, ensure that
any students that visit the pantry feel
comfortable, respect the confidentiality
and privacy of the students and thank
anyone who brings donations.
With a new room, the Food Pantry
needs some food to fill its empty shelves.
Records for logged visits to the Food
Pantry show that from Aug. 21 to Sept. 15
of this year, a total of 79 visits have been
made. Last semester, the Food Pantry
reported to have a total of 160 visits
throughout the entirety of the semester.
In three weeks, the new location has had
more than half of last semester’s visits.
“Now more than ever, we’re battling
some bare shelves, but its important to
note that dorm friendly food are what
we’re usually short on,” Chapman reports.
When asked what motivated him and
the entire Food Pantry Committee to
continue to run the Tarleton Food Pantry,
Chapman responded with their goal,
which is, “to provide assistance for those
who have difficulty buying food. Whether
it’s the cost of school or the cost of rent.
Whatever the case is, the last thing we
want them to have to worry about is
having to buy food. We’re just hoping that
people honor that and understand the
purpose behind it.”
With a big goal and a bigger heart,
the Tarleton Food Pantry continues
to provide for the Tarleton Family,
and continues to plan on making
improvements for the better.
“We’re hoping to expand that in the
future to add not only have food, but
also maybe have toiletry items, school
supplies and stuff like that as well,”
Chapman said.
More information about accessing,
volunteering and donating to the Food
Pantry can be found at www.Tarleton.
edu/foodpantry.
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JTAC News (Stephenville, Tex.), Ed. 1 Wednesday, October 11, 2017, newspaper, October 11, 2017; Stephenville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1007396/m1/4/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.