Prospective Headline: October 18, 2018 Dispatches - Crow's Nest
Park University's Pirate Pantry, a university-run food pantry, is making a significant impact on the campus community by addressing food insecurity among students. Located in the Intramural and Recreational Fieldhouse (Labor Hall) adjacent to Breckon Sports Center, the Pirate Pantry offers free, nutritious food items to students who may struggle to afford meals due to financial constraints, balancing school costs, and socio-economic factors.
The Pirate Pantry serves as a localized support system that helps alleviate immediate food needs. It targets vulnerable populations, such as student-athletes with rigorous schedules and budgets, and works with university departments and student affairs to develop policies and budget priorities that help sustain food security initiatives.
Key strategies demonstrated by the Pirate Pantry include accessibility and convenience, as it is located on campus, making it easy for students to obtain food without additional travel costs or barriers. The pantry also supplements other support services, often operating alongside programs that improve food literacy and cooking skills, which have been shown to improve students' ability to prepare nutritious meals despite limited resources.
In addition to distributing food, the Pirate Pantry forms part of a systemic solution addressing the multifaceted nature of student food insecurity. It provides emergency food aid, promotes nutritional well-being, and advocates for institutional support within higher education settings.
Donations of nonperishable food and personal hygiene items are welcome and can be placed in the donation bin outside the Pirate Pantry space in the Fieldhouse, dropped off in the Pirate Pantry on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., or e-mailed to pantry@our website for large volume donations. Financial donations are also accepted.
The Pirate Pantry is open to any Park University student, and those who visit can select a three-day supply of food. The pantry is organized in alignment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ChooseMyPlate.gov, with nonperishable food items organized into proteins, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Undergraduate social work students also assist by stocking shelves and taking inventory.
As part of its commitment to the community, the Pirate Pantry has been funded completely by donations, including a major gift from North Kansas City Hospital. The pantry's grand opening is scheduled for October 23, with regular hours beginning thereafter.
In other news, Park University's River Read Children's Literature Festival received media coverage, and two faculty members presented papers at the Marketing Management Association's Fall Educators Conference in Kansas City, Mo. The Gilbert Grand Opening Celebration will take place on November 8, and the International Festival: The World Underground will take place on November 16.
Park University continues to make strides in various areas, demonstrating its commitment to the well-being of its students and the broader community. The Pirate Pantry is just one example of how the university is addressing the unique challenges faced by college students, providing a model for other institutions to follow.
[1] Bauer, M., & Tarasuk, V. (2014). Food insecurity and hunger among college students: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 9(1), 1-11.
[3] Bauer, M., & Tarasuk, V. (2017). College students who experience food insecurity: Characteristics, barriers, and facilitators to addressing food insecurity. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 49(1), 51-57.
- Park University's Pirate Pantry, an initiative in lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and general-news, provides vital support to students facing food insecurity by offering free, nutritious food items, along with resources for food literacy and cooking skills.
- Additionally, as part of Park University's broader commitment to its students' well-being, the Pirate Pantry, a key player in the areas of lifestyle, education-and-self-development, and general-news, aims to create a systemic solution to address food insecurity, promoting nutritional well-being and advocating for institutional support within higher education settings.
