SUNY Old Westbury’s Panther Pantry will be among several offices to be relocated by March 27, 2023. The Pantry will be housed in the former Office of Residential Life in the Campus Center, giving it more visibility than it previously had.
Director of the Panther Pantry Claudia Newman is asking students to “be patient with us” as the Pantry adjusts and figures out the proper approach for an increase in shoppers. Adding that initially, there won’t be enough food to keep up with the demand. “It’s going to be a work in progress. Initially, no [there won’t be enough food.] We are going to have to work very hard to find more food.”
Newman says the Pantry will have to switch from the current “walk-in” system where students are able to grab whatever they want, to a system where students will be limited to a certain amount of items per shelf depending on how many people each visitor is shopping for. This new method will be necessary to ensure there is enough food and products for all shoppers.
In anticipation for the relocation, Newman says she is planning a “Campus-Wide Restock the Pantry Campaign” which will begin upon the return from Spring Break. Additionally, information on how to donate or otherwise assist the Pantry can be found on the Pantry website.
Students shop at the Pantry for a variety of reasons. Some are commuter students who take food back home to feed their families while others go because they don’t have enough money to pay daily to eat at the cafeteria and are looking for something that can be warmed up. Others are residential students seeking to get away from the cafeteria food or residents who can’t make it to dinner before it closes.
Commuters who shop at the Pantry to take home for their families may be impacted the most by the new system placing limits on how much food can be taken per shelf.
A 22-year old English major and residential student who asked to remain anonymous, said they shop at the Pantry twice a week, because they “suffer greatly from eating disorders … and a lot of the food at the Cafeteria makes me sick or stuck with stomach pains.” They also say they feel that the meal-plan required of all residential students “doesn’t take into consideration students who have but aren’t limited to students with allergies, students with chronic stomach problems, lactose intolerant, and students with eating disorders.”
In response to the possibility of a change from the walk-in system, the 22-year old said they “dislike it, heavy.” Adding, “I only eat food from the pantry or have to order in.”
The new system will be necessary to ensure there is enough food for all shoppers.
19-year old Sophomore and Criminology Major, Kayla Morgan says she is a little nervous about the changes as a consistent shopper at the Pantry “but I hope students who need it utilize it.”
Morgan says that despite having a meal plan, she shops at the Pantry because “the Cafeteria closes at 8pm and you can’t take any food outside of the cafeteria, but I could always rely on what I have from the pantry if I get hungry later. The pantry doesn’t only offer food. They also have hygiene products and school supplies for students.” Morgan is also a multi-person shopper. “I don’t only shop for myself. I have a roommate, So I try to shop for both of us.”
Morgan, like other students, is “excited for this new beginning” and also wanted to express her gratitude for Pantry Director Claudia Newman. “I would like to take the time to shout out Claudia Newman and the staff that works at the Pantry. Everyone is so welcoming and always updates me on what’s new and always being so nice when I visit.”
Naika Thadal, a senior pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Public Health, says she shops at the Pantry “once or twice every two weeks.” Thadal shops at the Pantry “because it’s convenient, it’s a faster way to get food without spending money. It’s easy for me to get essentials at the Pantry because it saves me time when I don’t have time to shop for myself.” Thadal visits the Pantry to shop for women’s hygiene products, milk, cereal and snacks. In response to the proposed changes, Thadal seems open to them, stating “This is definitely a change I would be accustomed to, however, I feel as there should be a limit on how people take food, and also that’ll make sure that everyone has a fair share.”
According to Newman, there will be a “Community Care Center” operating out of the Pantry next semester. The Community Care Center will include two social workers to connect students with more resources that the Pantry might not be able to directly provide such as housing issues, etc.
The Community Care Center will be established as part of the $878,057 “basic needs grant” announced alongside the $1,8700,000 STEM grant earlier this year.
