By: Lily Dalton
Contributor
The university Food Pantry has seen an increase in usage, as rising living costs and greater awareness of the resource have brought more students through the door.
Over the past three years, the pantry usage has more than tripled, recording 1,381 visits throughout the 2023-24 academic year compared to 4,971 visits documented during the 2025-26 academic year.
“Prices haven’t been this high in a while, so students genuinely need this food rather than want it,” Food Pantry graduate intern Zaina Gebril said.
The need for the Food Pantry was clear throughout the campus community.
“On average, 1 in 3 college students face some type of food insecurity,” Alandre Alexis, student affairs case coordinator for the dean of students and food pantry supervisor, said. “With around 9,000 students at Southern, 3,000 students on our campus are dealing with food insecurity, yet we still expect them to write a 15-page paper on the American Revolution; you can’t do that while trying to focus on your basic needs.”
Recent federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program have also resulted in an increase in the pantry’s usage.
“Honestly, when SNAP got cut, it was really hard to keep up with the pantry,” Gebril said, “since everything was more expensive and there was a higher demand for groceries.”
Reduced stigma surrounding food insecurity has also positively impacted the food pantry’s usage.
“We, as a state institution, are a close, true representation of our surrounding communities, many of which are low-income,” Alexis said. “However, part of me wants to think there are some positive reasons behind the increase; I think we’ve done very well addressing the stigma when it comes to visiting the pantry, so we’ve seen a lot more people be willing to use it.”
With an increase in demand, the pantry now operates year-round. They are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
“I feel very comfortable using the pantry. There are not many restrictions, and I haven’t had a bad experience,” nursing major Chrystophe Obiang Ze, a senior, said.
The pantry aims to be easily accessible to all students.
“Food insecurity looks different for everyone; there is no definitive picture of food insecurity. It really could look like any of us,” Alexis said.
The pantry has put limits on student intake to make sure every student has fair access.
Students are allowed to take two of the same item, such as drinks and canned items, at a time.
“We’re here to provide for all students, but I do wish that everyone respected the limits we have in place,” Gebril said.
The pantry demand has opened up new opportunities to access all kinds of necessities.
“It started off with mainly canned goods, now we have donations from bakeries with pastries and all kinds of ready-to-go meals,” Gebril said. “We’re getting a lot more produce and healthier food items, toiletries, hygiene items and baby supplies.”
“I really like the cereals and drinks they have; they’re the ones I really rely on,” Obiang Ze said.
With the growing need and high demand for the pantry, keeping the shelves stocked remains a top priority.
“Make the small effort to help; no effort is too small,” Alexis said.
The university community can support the pantry by donating through the Support Our Student fund or purchasing needed items through their Amazon Wishlist.
