Detroit Mercy Student Pantry

Happy, Healthy, Organizing-Change (H20) is a new organization within the University of Detroit Mercy's Institute of Leadership and Service. H20's goal is to increase the standard of living of students. As a result, H20 has established a Student Food Pantry, located in Room 41 of Reno Hall, and we need your help to keep our shelves stocked. Our goal is to decrease Detroit Mercy's student food insecurity by one-third.

WHAT IS FOOD INSECURITY?

Food insecurity is defined as the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. According to a 2017 study by the United States Department of Agriculture, 87.7 percent of American households were food secure during the entire year in 2016. However, 12.3% of Americans, or 15.6 million households, were food insecure for a least some portion of the year.

WHY DETROIT MERCY?

Nationally, food insecurity is experienced by 36% of college students. A study conducted at University of Detroit Mercy in fall 2017 by Campus Kitchen and the Student Social Workers Association found similar results. According to the study, 46.5% of respondents reported food insecurity during their experience at Detroit Mercy. These results indicate a pantry is needed at Detroit Mercy.

There are multiple food pantries available in the community, but having a pantry on the McNichols campus will alleviate barriers that make it hard for students to use those resources. Community pantries are often located far from campus and some students do not have transportation. In addition, the pantries are usually only open during the day when students are in class. Students may also not meet the income or residency criteria to be eligible to shop at certain pantries — but that doesn’t mean they don’t still need help.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

Detroit Mercy’s Pantry has two goals. First, increase students’ standard of living and second, decrease student food insecurity by one-third. We will do this by providing food, finding external food resources, and creating awareness of student food insecurity. We plan to decrease food insecurity by creating a pantry on campus in Reno Hall for Detroit Mercy students.

The pantry will operate grocery store style and will be initially be open monthly and eventually transition to biweekly to students who have applied to the program.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

You can support the Detroit Mercy Student Pantry through a monetary donation to help with startup costs and to keep the shelves stocked.