Jacks Cupboard, the on campus food pantry that was developed in 2018, has been utilized over 4,500 times by both undergraduate and graduate students swiping throughout the school year.
“This is easily our busiest year to date,” said Emma Stalboerger, Jacks Cupboard president. “This year more people are aware we exist.”
The awareness of Jacks Cupboard aligns with the campus increase of over 12,000 students on campus this year. Tabling and events held by the Jacks Cupboard student team as well as an added partnership with feeding Brookings this year helped grow their capacity by playing a role to reach more students as well.
With the expected number of students coming in being higher this year, renovation occurred last summer in Jacks Cupboard that would help open up the space and improve the flow for students who come through. New shelving was installed, and two freezers that were donated by Sodexo late last fall were added.
“It was really nice of them to donate and help us out, “ said Olivia Husmann, Jacks Cupboard vice president.
Along with their renovation, they have also had successful organized food drives. The week before Hobo Week they held their second annual Hobos Fighting Hunger food drive. It was a competitive bingo game that was crafted to bring the campus community together while collecting donations for the pantry. They had eight student organizations come together, and donate 755 pounds of food.
“It was the most we have ever seen from a student focused food drive,” said Stalboerger.
Pack the Pantry, their faculty based food drive, occurred at the end of November and had nearly 4,000 items donated. Because of the large amount of donations they have received so far, they are not needing to dip into their funds to purchase items.
“We do have access to a large amount of funds that we don’t want to dip into if we don’t have to,” said Stalboerger.
When it comes to purchasing items for the pantry, they have a partnership with Feeding South Dakota where they get donations of food for a cheaper price. Donations stay consistent and typically come in every other week.
“Sometimes we have gradual donations come in here and there,” said Husmann. “We could easily accept more food if we had more space.”
Last school year they saw around 7,500 pounds of food leaving the Cupboard, and this year they have had well over 6,000 pounds leave with two months of classes left in the school year.
An event called Donations for Citations is happening now, and will go for the rest of the semester. If you receive a parking ticket during the spring semester, you are able to donate items that equal certain amounts to pay for your ticket according to a list that UPD provides. Items can be brought to the Card & Parking Service Center in the Student Union.
Cram the Cupboard, a student focused food drive, will occur May 5-9 when students are finishing their final exams and moving out of the dorms. Boxes will be distributed to the front of residence halls where students are able to donate items that are unopened and in date.
Jacks Cupboard is located southwest of Ben Reifel and this semester it is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3-6 p.m. with summer hours subject to change. They accept food items that are unopened and in date as well as money donations.
