There have been a lot of changes to Residential Life this year, from the departure of former director Randi Mogul to rapid housing changes. But one change that has received less attention is the recent closure of the Residential Life food pantry.
Previously located in the Residential Life office in Porter Hall, the pantry provided students with snacks, non-perishable goods, and hygiene products. The free pantry was open to all college students and operated on a no-questions-asked basis, allowing a judgement-free zone for students to take what they needed.
According to Operations Coordinator in Residential Life and Housing Amanda Harilal, the decision to close the food pantry was announced to staff shortly after students moved in earlier this fall. “I believe some of their decisions were from lack of numbers and statistics showing where the budget funds went,” said Harilal.
Costs were a large factor in the closure of the food pantry. Harilal stated that in the past, contributions to the food pantry came from students, faculty, staff, alumni, and previous director Randi Mogul’s personal funds. She estimated the pantry took $500 to $1000 per month to maintain.
Popular items at the food pantry included Buldak noodles, pasta and pasta sauce, beef jerky, tuna, peanut butter, and apple sauce. There were some concerns over the nutritional value of the pantry’s supplies under the previous director, according to Harilal.
Current Residential Life Director Ryan Schamp shared in an email exchange that while there are no records of the food pantry’s costs, “estimates put the amount per year spent at somewhere between 12,000-14,000 per fiscal year.” The lack of usage records made it difficult for Residential Life to determine if the costs of operating were justified.
According to Interim Director of Residential Life Schamp, a small percentage (6.2% of current Beloit college students) do not have a meal plan. This totals to 42 on-campus students this year. Schamp stated via email that “the need of on-campus students for this pantry is not shown, further 93.8% of on-campus students have meal plans that provide for a much more balanced and healthy diet.”
While the decision makers on this issue — Interim Director Schamp and Dean of Students Ron Watson — weighed whether the pantry’s operating costs were justified, the true positive impact of the pantry on the campus community is difficult to measure.
“When we take away food access to students then we see those effects,” said former Residential Life employee Kate Mann’27. “To be able to have a food pantry, go in there without shame and take what you need … that means something.”. Mann also pointed to athletes, whose practices sometimes end after dining services close, and students whose busy schedules make it difficult to access regular meals.
Director Harlial stated there were many conversations had in the decision to close the pantry. She said she was not part of the decision to close the food pantry, and would personally want to see the pantry back.
When asked via email if reinstating the pantry is a priority of Residential Life this year, Interim Director Schamp replied, “It is not. This was an intentional and researched decision made by Interim Director Schamp and Dean of Students Watson. Simply, there are better solutions already available and attempts to mimic those solutions through Residential Life offer a poor substitute, and are wildly cost ineffective.”
In order to explore better solutions, Schamp entered conversations with local food pantry Second Harvest; however, it has been determined a formal partnership with external groups is “impossible” at this time. Schamp spoke with the director of Second Harvest, a non-profit responsible for the bulk of food pantries in Wisconsin. They supply food pantry materials to Beloit local Caritas food pantry and Blackhawk College.
Schamp wrote via email that a further partnership with Residential life and an outside pantry organization wasn’t viable due to a lack of records, limited use-case and lack of staffing available to maintain the pantry. After speaking with food pantry directors, he wrote, it “became clearly apparent that the best plan going forward would be for students in need to come to Caritas.”
The Caritas food pantry, located at 2840 Prairie Ave, is a 22-minute bus ride from the bus stop at the corner of Park Ave and Emerson Street. It is only open Monday through Thursday 10:00am to 2:15pm. The previous residential life food pantry was located in the Residential life office in Porter Hall. According to the Beloit College website, the pantry was available during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Some students are taking it into their own hands to continue the pantry. According to Noor Ul Ain’27, Beloit Student Government’s Funding Board Director, the student government has reserved funds available for campus projects and discussed using them to bring back a food pantry on campus. “It is something we are looking to fund,” said Ain.
“Food insecurity is a real concern, and it absolutely should be addressed,” said Schamp in an email. “Currently, Residential Life is not the best way to meet that concern.” Shamp said that funds can be used to create “a higher positive impact on residents.”
Schamp stated that the ongoing goals of residential life are “ensuring our residents are (in order) Safe, Healthy, and Happy.” For example, following Resident Assistant standards, key safety guidelines, and fire safety policy rigidity.
Harilal emphasized that the closure of the food pantry was not a flippant decision. “As an assessment was made of this department about what our priorities are and where our budget dollars are being spent, it was determined that this does not make the most sense for the betterment of the entire department.” She said future programming “has to be sustainable” and needs continuity of programming, budget, structure, clarity, partnership. “Although [the food pantry] was a really wonderful idea and initiative, it did not have those things from the beginning,” Harilal said.
Featured image: Flickr
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