NATCHITOCHES – During this past week’s cold snap, almost 90 Northwestern State University students took advantage of an important resource, the campus food pantry, highlighting its ongoing impact not only during campus closures but for students year-round.

Branded as The Pantry, the facility is open to all NSU and BPCC@NSU students free of charge offering non-perishable food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, kitchen tools, cutlery, sanitizer, personal hygiene products, and other items. The Pantry is staffed by more than 50 student, faculty, and staff volunteers who are trained on the importance of courtesy and confidentiality.

The Pantry was created in 2015 as a class project for social work students and the NSU Social Work Club, who discovered a need to combat food insecurity on campus where some students struggle financially and aren’t inclined to ask for help. As interest in The Pantry and the number of students it served grew, students worked with administrators to identify space in the Trisler Power Plant and transformed it into an area where shelving, displays, and storage are arranged in a manner similar to a convenience store.

In recent years, the importance of The Pantry was made evident during the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple damaging weather events. During those times, The Pantry was available for students unable to travel home, including a significant number of international students.

NSU was one of the first universities in the state to create a food pantry. Today, most universities support some type of food bank. NSU partners with student organizations and philanthropies outside the university to maintain inventory while volunteers ensure The Pantry is clean, organized, and welcoming.

The Pantry is located on the south side of Trisler Power Plant across from Magale Recital Hall on NSU’s Central Avenue.

Donations to the Food Pantry are always welcome. Monetary donations are also accepted through the NSU Foundation. Donors can visit http://www.northwesternstatealumni.com and support the NSU Food Pantry in the Make A Gift section and specify the NSU Food Pantry.