For many students at the University of Oregon, food may be the last item to budget, taking place behind a long list of needed textbooks, pricey rent shares and home necessities. Granola bars and microwavable dinners may become a convenient norm, while nutrition-packed produce and proteins are expensive luxuries. Food is expensive and college students don’t always have a whole lot of money to spend on it. Doug Hale knows this.
“We’re here to help,” the Episcopal Campus Ministry reverend and food pantry director said. “College students have enough to worry about and eating shouldn’t be a part of that.”
The student food pantry, which makes accessible a large selection of free grocery staples once a week to UO, Lane Community College and Northwest Christian University students, aims to reach more students — many whom are unaware of the program and many who dismiss it as help not needed.
The food comes from a large number of charitable sources, particularly Food for Lane County. On the “carb shelf”, you’ll find bread donated from Market of Choice such as ciabatta and garlic French bread. In the refrigerator, you’ll find containers of Nancy’s Yogurt stacked high, direct from the production facility. Cash is also directly donated to the pantry, which Hale uses to purchase healthy food staples like fresh produce and grains.
“A lot of food pantries aim to simply get calories into those that they help,” he said. “Here, we prioritize nutritional content.”
For those in the front of the line, surprises sometimes await.
“Once it was a big pesto pizza, and another time a 10-pound Butterball Turkey,” said UO student Aaron Halbert. Halbert, who has visited the pantry for about four months now, heard about the program through word of mouth.
“It’s a great program … We’re all college students and there shouldn’t be any shame in it,” he said.
From those exiting the shed first, cartons of eggs, containers of organic leafy salad blends and full loaves of multi-grain bread are clearly visible. For those exiting last, the same. There is always plenty to go around.
Since his time with the student food pantry last spring, Hale has seen a tremendous increase in the number of students looking to utilize the ministry. During his first months, he helped about 30 students through the shed. Today, that number tops 90. He hopes for it to continue to grow and for students to be more open to accepting the help.
“If there’s a taboo behind it, there shouldn’t be,” said UO economics major and pantry frequenter Justin Brown, waiting in line for a go at the numerous shelves of free food inside. “The food is good. And free!”
The pantry is open every Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the corner of 19th Avenue and Onyx Street — this is also where donations are accepted. Visitors must bring their own bags.