The Serve Center will provide the first pop-up food pantry of the year from one to four p.m. on Sept. 14 in the SUB down under. The event will give students additional access to the food pantry’s services.
“A pop-up food pantry is more like you get to go around in the SUB down under and shop, as opposed to the [regular] food pantry. It’s just in our little office,” Serve Center Community Coordinator Mairin Warner said.
The shopping experience and the additional hours are what make the pop-up food pantry unique. The same supplies can be found at the pop up events or the regular hours. Usually, representatives from different food related organizations around Missouri will also be at the pop-up events.
The food pantry has hours throughout the week where students can come in and pick out food or pick up a pre-made food pack they can order online. Any students can use the resources the food pantry offers. There are no income-related requirements.
“It’s important for me to be a part of the food pantry because it’s a way to give back and it’s a way to educate students as well, both on food insecurity and its existence in Adair County and the Truman State community,” Graduate Assistant to the Serve Center, Chuck Perry, said.
There will be more pop-up food pantries Oct. 5, Nov. 9 and Dec. 7. To get supplies for the food pantry, Perry said they rely on donations from alums and food drives from various organizations around Kirksville. They also accept donations from students and staff.
Warner said she hopes knowledge and awareness about the food pantry grows so the people who need it know that this resource is available. Warner and Perry said they aim to increase public awareness about the food pantry this semester.