The Pantry holds first anniversary celebration amid new program announcement

FORT WAYNE, Ind.—Purdue University Fort Wayne is holding a special one-year anniversary celebration for the campus food pantry and announcing a new Pantry Partner Program on Monday, November 19, at 12:30 p.m. in Walb Student Union, Room 215.

“The Pantry at Purdue Fort Wayne is a great resource and serves a clear need,” says Chancellor Ron Elsenbaumer. “We are thrilled to be able to offer help not only to students on our campus, but to anyone facing food insecurity in northeast Indiana.”

The food pantry is open once a week when campus is open, and since opening last year, has had more than 1,500 visits. October 2018 saw the highest need with 247 visits in the four days The Pantry was open. Clients are offered up to 15 items per visit with no proof of need required. The only information collected is related to demographics.

As the number of visits to the pantry increase, so does the need for donations of food and money.

“We are distributing more than 1,000 items to food-insecure people every week” says Kasey Price, assistant vice chancellor for student life and leadership. “We are only able to do that through the generous donations of others and we are very grateful.”

To recognize that generosity, Purdue Fort Wayne is announcing the Pantry Partner Program. Partners can contribute at a Bronze ($500), Silver ($1,000), or Gold ($1,500) level.

The Pantry at Purdue Fort Wayne is a partner of Community Harvest Food Bank, and a member of the College and University Food Bank Alliance.

It is open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. when campus is open. Donations of prepackaged and canned food and drinks, and money are accepted any time the campus is open. Donations can also be made securely through our online site.

For additional information, contact Nicole Hahn at 260-481-4106 (office), 260-760-7409 (cell), or [email protected].

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