Information regarding the state of the government shutdown and SNAP benefits is up to date as of Wednesday, Nov. 12.
By Audrey Bullock and Kayla Raynak
The Rock Pantry+ is an on-campus service that provides free food, toiletries and cleaning supplies to students experiencing food insecurity.
Since the full government shutdown, the Rock Pantry+ has seen an influx in student usage, though there is no available data at this time to show a direct correlation between the two.
“The way we are seeing the impact of these changes is through the usage of the pantry and the increase in the students who are using our services through Student Support,” Tori Kapopoulos, Associate Director of Student Support, said.
SRU Student Support works with students to help navigate challenges through college while providing support, care and resources.
She also said the Rock Pantry+ is continuing to see new users.
“We are seeing new students finding the space and utilizing it, which is showing me that the awareness is increasing, but the need is also increasing for students,” Kapopoulos said.
The pantry has recently relocated from Patterson to the new Student Success Center.
The Trump Administration cut Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding after October due to the shutdown. SNAP is a federal program that provides food benefits to low-income families.
The effects across states have varied. Some states have received partial funding, while others have received none or are back to full benefits. 1 in 8 Americans has been affected.
According to the Associated Press, more than a quarter of states have not processed SNAP benefits for eligible recipients.
24 states have sued the Trump Administration for unlawfully cutting SNAP payments to Americans and refusing to use available contingency funds to fund SNAP.
Some state leaders have begun issuing emergency SNAP funds to eligible recipients, but have faced an order from the Trump Administration to halt this.
With these recent events, the Rock Pantry+ has been adjusting to help and reach students.
“I think we are advertising and increasing awareness a lot more, and so as something like SNAP benefit changes are happening, we are talking about this resource being something to supplement those students who are experiencing a lack of benefits during this time. I think we are also trying to do more outreach to different groups on campus too, so clubs and organizations so they could spread the word, putting things on CORE about the pantry. So I think it’s more of an awareness and outreach technique to make sure we are reaching the furthest number of students,” Kapopoulos said.
The Hope Center for Students Basic Needs at Temple University is conducting a survey that universities across the nation can facilitate.
It gives them the opportunity to learn more about basic needs.
“One of the trends that they see with college students specifically is food insecurity,” Kapopoulos said.
Student Support is facilitating this survey.
“When we’re thinking about basic needs, it’s not always just identifying that one specific issue…if [students are] having trouble affording food, are they also having trouble affording rent, are they also having trouble affording gas? It’s a much bigger picture than just addressing the food insecurity issue,” Kapopoulos said.
If students are interested they can take the survey here.
“I really appreciate that this survey is available because it helps us identify specifically what our campus is experiencing, but it also normalizes that many other college students are having this similar experience,” Kapopoulos said.
Students will have until the end of the semester to complete this survey for a chance to win prizes.
The Rock Pantry+ also has a meal swipe program. At the beginning of the fall and spring semester, the pantry does a meal swipe drive.
The pantry collects guest meal swipes from students’ meal plans who aren’t using them, and pass them out to other students to use at Boozel.
Student Support also has financial resources.
“We do have an emergency fund for students that are experiencing some unexpected events and they’re not able to afford it, and so I can work with students to identify if we’re able to help with rent or text books or things of that sort, and helping them identify if there’s additional financial aid they might qualify for,” Kapopoulos said.
The Rock Pantry+ also has a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank which has been established this semester.
“What that does for us is that it improves our check-in system for students. So when they come in they, create an account. They then check in using their Touchnet 360 app, the QR Code, so it’s a quick scan-and-go-shop-type situation. So that if they don’t want to have a lot of conversation, they could just come in quickly. And there’s no check-out process, so they just check into the pantry and they can leave when they’re done shopping, so that’s very convenient,” Kapopoulos said.
From working with the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank, the Rock Pantry can order free produce for students as well as milk, eggs and meat.
Students can get free produce the first Friday of every month this semester.
The Rock Pantry+ is completely free for all active SRU students and is able to answer any questions students may have.
“We don’t ask questions when students come in here. We’re not asking why they need this service or if they need this service. It is literally just, come in here and get what you need,” Kapopoulos said.
The program operates with the help of Slippery Rock Student Government Association, students on campus and faculty.
The Rock Pantry+ is located in 201 Campus Success Center and is open from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
For more updates and information on the Rock Pantry, students can follow @rock.pantry on Instagram.
If individuals are interested in donating, they can go here.
