A Helping Hand: USD Food Pantry

Spotlighting the on-campus resource and the relief it provides students

Haley Jacob / Assistant Feature Editor / The USD Vista

For many students, attending college is an experience that comes with financial stresses. Resources such as the USD Food Pantry, an on-campus supplier of free food and other living necessities, provide students with the means to help mitigate these burdens. 

Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, Cynthia Avery, Ed., operates the pantry with her Executive Assistant Jelitsa Fonseca and other work-study students. Dr. Avery explained the USD Food Pantry’s services to students.

“The general goal of the USD Food Pantry is to provide food, hygiene products, and school supplies for students facing food insecurity. We partner with the San Diego Food Bank for some of the food, where either myself or my Executive Assistant, Jelitsa Fonseca, visits the food bank on a weekly basis to gather what is needed,” Avery said. “In addition to these appointments, I visit other grocery and variety stores between three to eight times a week to ensure we have fresh produce and other necessary items. If students do not find the food they need or want, they can make requests with our student assistant, and we strive to get what they need.” 

The USD Food Pantry is located in UC 116 and allows students to utilize its services through individual appointments to maintain COVID-19 safety guidelines. 

Students experiencing  food insecurity must  first complete the enrollment form found on the pantry’s website to get approved for access to the food pantry. 

Once approved, students become registered pantry members and receive a link for appointment sign-up times. The pantry allows for one appointment each week. 

It’s important to note that all information is kept confidential, and students can rely on the complete protection of their privacy. 

Dr. Avery expanded on the extended benefits of the enrollment process. 

“The private enrollment form helps us to gather data about the number of students who may be experiencing food and housing insecurity and allows us to outreach to students to discuss different support options,” Avery said. “Many students may also qualify for CalFresh food benefits. This benefit will allow them to supplement the food they gather from the pantry with additional supplies from local grocery stores with their benefit card.”

The Associated Student Government provides funding for the pantry’s food and supplies. USD junior and ASG Speaker of the Senate, Sean Kenney, works closely with Dr. Avery to ensure that the pantry’s needs and expenses are met. Kenney shared that the organization allocated a $20,000 budget to the pantry this semester alone. Kenney explained his perspective on why ASG’s relationship with the pantry is essential for promoting student wellness and success on campus. 

“For ASG, we strongly believe that it is a priority to support and accommodate all undergraduate students, especially those facing food insecurities, financial challenges, and those who hold marginalized identities,” Kenney said. “I don’t think we as a university can be at our best if we have students pursuing their degrees on empty stomachs because they don’t have enough food to eat. After all, food is a human right, so I believe we have a collective responsibility to protect that.”

The pantry is well utilized and highly effective. Dr. Avery shared that the resource has helped up to 207 students in one semester. However, the hours of operation are limited due to a staff shortage. It is encouraged for students to help support the facilitation of the food pantry, an opportunity available to those seeking work-study positions. 

Other ways to support the pantry include donating items listed on the pantry’s website, such as canned food, laundry detergent products, and period products. If interested in donating, students must contact the food pantry’s email, usdfoodpantry@sandiego.edu.

It is essential to have on-campus resources like the USD Food Pantry to ensure all students feel supported during their time at college.

The pressures of being a student are already high enough, and no student should ever feel as though their financial situation warrants sacrificing deserved access to basic living necessities.