And what permanent food donation bin, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Dirac Science Library to be born?
FSU Libraries, in collaboration with the Student Government Association, the Food for Thought Pantry, and Sustainable Campus, unveiled the inaugural permanent food donation bin in the Dirac Library lobby on Wednesday, October 30 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Food for Thought Pantry, which relies entirely on donations from various sources—including Second Harvest of Big Bend, plays a crucial role in supporting students facing food insecurity. As the number of students utilizing this resource continues to rise, it becomes imperative for the university to explore alternative and effective ways to sustain and fund this essential service.
FSU’s Food for Thought Pantry is also engaged in a competition with UF’s Alan and Cathy Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry. Each type of donatable item is assigned a point value; when the November 1-26 donation period is finished, the inventories will be totaled based on the point system, and whichever school has the most points wins. Gale Etschmaier, Dean of FSU Libraries is looking forward to this competition: “We are excited about the friendly competition with UF, which not only fosters school spirit but also amplifies our collective efforts to combat food insecurity.”
The Dean also expressed her enthusiasm about the new donation bin: “We are thrilled to introduce a permanent food donation bin at Dirac. This is the second food donation bin at FSU Libraries; the first was installed at Strozier in April, a testament to our commitment to supporting students facing food insecurity. This initiative underscores the power of community and the importance of sustainable support systems.”
Addressing food insecurity directly impacts student well-being. Research indicates that low food security correlates with poorer mental health outcomes, and both food insecurity and psychological distress can affect academic performance (Marmolejo et al., 2022). The Food for Thought Pantry, administered by the Department of Student Support and Transitions at FSU, provides a safe space for all enrolled students experiencing food insecurity. Operating from 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, in the University Center, it offers essential support to those in need.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, the Pantry witnessed significant growth. From August 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, it served 1706 unique students, totaling 9318 visits during standard operating hours at its permanent location. This represents a remarkable 76% increase in unique students served and a 139% increase in total visits compared to the previous year. Additionally, in 2022-2023, the Pantry adopted an innovative approach, serving 429 unique students through mobile food distribution events across campus.
For more information on how to donate to Food for Thought, visit https://dsst.fsu.edu/foodpantry/donations.
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