MSU fights food insecurity among students with new food pantry

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – College students have a lot on their plates.

They have to keep their grades up, hold down a job, and often-times navigate a strict budget.

While their figurative plates may be full, their dinner plates can sometimes be empty.

Food Insecurity is a growing concern for college students everywhere.

Recent research from Temple University shows that almost 36% of college students don’t have enough to eat.

Folks at Mississippi State University are working to lower that number.

Bully’s Closet and Pantry is a new program on MSU’s campus.

Its purpose– to provide students with a healthy and balanced meal.

“The ability to be in the classroom and focus on your professor, whether they are teaching Latin or they are teaching French or even Biology II, can be extremely difficult if you haven’t had a proper meal,” said MSU’s Montelleo Hobley.

Students can visit the pantry once a week to load up on groceries, hygiene items, and even professional clothing.

“For example, a student could come on Friday so they would have enough food to get through the weekend, and then they could come back on Monday or Tuesday so they would have food for the next week,” said Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Regina Hyatt.

The pantry is funded through donations from the public as well as various MSU departments.

“We’ll also be having eggs from the poultry science program. We’ll have milk from our dairy. We’ll have baked good from our bakery on campus,” said Hyatt.

Departments that can’t offer food, extend their hand in other ways.

“We’re going to be having recipe books that are made by our dietitians, so those books will be available for students to make meals that are nutritious, healthy, and good for them by using the items here in the pantry… We are going to be having some cooking classes as well, so we are working with our partners Aramark, as well as our dietitian on campus through the Longest Health Center to provide cooking classes for our students who want to come by and see how to make a meal with limited items, limited resources,” said Hobley.

Asking for help isn’t always easy. We spoke with a few students who say it’s all about changing people’s mindsets.

“I feel like at first, it may be a little difficult for students to start going, but I think that the more people talk about it and the more we say ‘if you need help, then it’s ok to ask for help’ then I think that it’ll be ok and students will feel more comfortable going,” said senior MSU student, Alex Cumbest.

“I would say go for it, and take advantage of all the opportunities because it’s there for a reason and people are donating. You should just take advantage of it,” said junior MSU student, Morgan Lomax.

“We want to de-stigmatize this idea that people have everything they need all the time because we just know that’s not true,” said Hyatt.

Bully’s Closet and Pantry will officially open Friday, January 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.

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