Hunger should never be a barrier to learning. As the semester ends and temperatures drop, you can ensure students who need a little extra help receive it.
The Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology is collecting food and personal hygiene items for the School Street Food Pantry. Items can be dropped off in CTLT’s front lobby through Friday, December 14. CTLT is open from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. this week and for extended hours during finals week.
The pantry, a student-led project which works with several area agencies, helps students from Illinois State, Illinois Wesleyan, and local community colleges. Items are distributed Friday afternoons.
Food donated to the pantry must be non-perishable, unexpired, and undamaged. Canned chicken or tuna, vegetarian/vegan foods, and gluten-free foods are especially welcome. Volunteers say toilet paper, feminine hygiene products, laundry detergent, dish soap, and deodorant (all in original, unopened packaging) also make good donations. The pantry also accepts new and used cooking utensils.
Food insecurity is a real thing, affecting many students at some point along their educational journey—far more than many might believe. A local study shows it’s a genuine issue at Illinois State, and a recent article in the Chronicle of Higher Education includes testimonials from those who have experienced it firsthand.
Find out much more about the School Street Food Pantry, including how you can volunteer yourself, at SchoolStreetFoodPantry.org.
