Feb. 3, 2022–The Campus Cupboard at Missouri Western State University will receive a microgrant of $3,000 from a national nonprofit addressing hunger among college students. The grant will allow the Campus Cupboard to hire a student manager.
“Food insecurity is a big concern for college students nationally and locally, and this grant will help us address that issue,” said Dr. Brett Bruner, assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students. “Hiring a student manager will allow the Campus Cupboard to offer expanded hours, including evenings and weekends. It will also allow us to develop new marketing initiatives, establish a more consistent volunteer program and more.”
The Campus Cupboard was established in 2015 by the Rotaract Club, Dr. Elise Hepworth and Student Affairs. It is located in Blum Student Union, room 214, and is currently open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Cupboard is supplied with nonperishable and perishable food items along with some personal care products. This is the result of campus food drives and donations from individuals, business partners and student and community organizations.
Currently, the Campus Cupboard and the Bearcat Food Pantry at Northwest Missouri State University are the beneficiaries of Scratching Out Hunger, a friendly competition between the student government organizations at the two schools. The student groups are collecting food and monetary donations for their respective food pantry, with the winner to be announced at the Griffon-Bearcat basketball games Saturday.
The microgrant is one of 17 awarded nationally by Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit committed to ending college student hunger. The grant program was offered as part of Swipe Out Hunger’s acquisition of the College and University Food Bank Alliance.
For more information about the Campus Cupboard, email cupboard@missouriwestern.edu.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.