Trinity Hewtty
Staff Writer
The Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement joins forces with Delta Chi to fight food insecurity by organizing a nonperishable food drive benefiting students, faculty and staff at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
The food drive runs through Nov. 17 and drop off bins are located in the Office of Student Life, Patriot’s Casa and the ScitTech lobby.
“You can contribute anything from one can of beans to several packets of tuna or even cereal,” Johnnie Vega, chair of philanthropy for Delta Chi and an electronic systems engineering technology junior, said.
Delta Chi began planning the food drive with the Mays Center for philanthropic purposes, though that reason was given a new meaning when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was halted earlier this month, Vega said.
“When we started planning, the food stamp situation was not a big part of it because we did not anticipate what was going to happen,” he said. “But now that it has happened it is now more important than ever if others can contribute to help students and staff.”
All donations will go to the university food pantry, General’s Store, and should meet the following requirements:
- Only nonperishable foods are accepted such as canned soup, beans, vegetables, pasta, fruits, rice and peanut butter.
- Any perishable items like milk, meat or expired food are not accepted.
- Personal care and hygiene products including shampoo, conditioner, toiletries and feminine products are accepted.
Since SNAP benefits suspended Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown; the General’s store has not seen the impact of this in numbers yet but has noticed an increase in students using the resource in the past months.
“We have definitely seen an increase in students using the General’s Store over the last few months, but we have not seen the effects just yet of what is currently going on,” Lori Day, the assistant director of civic engagement for the Mays Center, said about the food stamp revocation.
Day said she has noticed a surplus of 35 students using the store within this past week.
“There is a rise in these students taking advantage of hygiene products and household basics,” she said. “They benefit from those types of things, which are always appreciated when they are donated.”
Although the food drive had a slow start in donations, Vega said traction is picking up in offerings and hopes that it will continue to surge.
“We definitely would love to see it pick up more,” he said.
Vega wants contributors to know that any offering, no matter the amount, is crucial in helping fellow Jaguars.
“It is very crucial for those who are able to donate can because they are looking out for their fellow students,” he said. “We are all Jaguars at the end of the day. Every little bit counts from one can to several boxes. Anything donated helps a ton.”
Day, who volunteered for the food pantry in 2019 to 2022 when she was a student, took on a more executive role for the store in May and agrees that every donation no matter the size is important.
“ I feel like every donation, no matter how small it is helps to keep another Jaguar or another community member get through their week,” she said. “That is what a community is supposed to look like, showing up for one another in ways that truly matter. Any donation always goes a long way and even if you are not able to donate items, just donate your time as a volunteer to help support people in your community and on campus.”
The General’s Store is open to students, faculty, staff and alumni; donations are always welcomed.
For more information, visit https://jagsync.tamusa.edu/event/11820435, email jvega046@jaguar.tamu.edu or lday1@tamusa.edu.
