Kimberly Rivera
Editor-In-Chief
General’s Store, a student-focused food pantry at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, opened on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The food pantry, a partnership between San Antonio Food Bank and the Center of Experiential Learning and Community Engagement, opened to address food insecurity on campus.
The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as “consistent access to adequate food limited by a lack of money and other resources at times during the year.”
At the General’s store grand opening, university President Cynthia Teniente-Matson addressed the importance of a campus food pantry.
“We know that there is a need here on our campus,” Matson said. “I hear about this from our faculty, I hear about this from our staff.”
More than 400 campus food pantries exist around the country.
According to the latest USDA report, 15.4 percent of Texas households experience food insecurity in the years of 2013 to 2015.
The goal of General’s Store is to eliminate food insecurity as well as provide volunteer and experiential learning opportunities for students.
Students who wish to use food pantry will sign-in at the front desk at Patriots’ Casa and fill out an application.
Once reviewed, students will receive a Shopping List to fill out.
General’s store is open every Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and is also available by appointment.
For more information, contact the General’s Store at foodpantry@tamusa.edu or visit in-person at the Patriots Casa, room 110.
*Note: Staff reporter Rafael Gubser contributed to this report.
