Campus food pantry sees rise in donations from community, employees and students

While most students have returned home to complete the semester remotely due to the coronavirus, many of those who remain on campus and in the community are confronting the now-familiar challenges of lost wages and difficulty in accessing food.

The Binghamton University Food Pantry supports some of these students, in large part thanks to recent donations from diverse benefactors. Local restaurants and churches have offered support; faculty, staff, alumni and parents have provided money and goods; and students have donated leftover dining balances toward frozen meat, fish, vegetables and dairy products supplied by Binghamton University Dining Services. The student-run Off Campus College Council (OC3) even donated $10,000 to the pantry that would have otherwise supported programming and events for students living off campus this spring.

Jacob Eckhaus, OC3’s vice president for finance, said that his organization had already been in contact with Food Pantry staff prior to the spread of the coronavirus, discussing ways they could collaborate to help students living off campus.

“One of the biggest issues that off-campus students face is food insecurity,” said Eckhaus, “and the recent pandemic has only worsened this for many of our students. We know how valuable the Food Pantry is and hope that our contribution will allow it to continue to operate at this increased capacity throughout the duration of this pandemic.”

Linda Salomons, parent, family and events coordinator for the University, has also seen increased need as she has worked tirelessly in recent weeks to keep the pantry open and well-stocked, saying she was consistently seeing 15 to 20 students a day. Due to the increase in traffic and for the health of all involved, the Food Pantry has moved to an online ordering and pick-up model, allowing any student to place an order on the Food Pantry’s website once a week. Pantry staff will then package the food and leave it in the lobby of the Rockefeller Center for students to pick up at a prearranged time.

“The students coming by have been so appreciative,” said Salomons, who has been instrumental in running the pantry — shopping for and ordering needed items, arranging the drop-off or pick-up of donations and assisting student visitors at the pantry during open hours each week. “Many of them are first-time users of the pantry. As a parent myself, I feel fortunate to be able to help take care of these students.”

Jason Ocampo, a first-year student majoring in computer science recently started volunteering at the Food Pantry. He said that even before the coronavirus and social distancing guidelines made it difficult to access food, he appreciated the pantry, as it relieved some of the stress of managing his limited dining budget as an on-campus student.

“The Food Pantry is helping by providing students the ability to stay safe in their house or residence hall and have food readily available to them,” he said. “It’s great to know that there are programs out there that will help those who are in need, especially in times like this.”