University of Nevada, Reno seeks donations for student food insecurity
Sophie Morton fills an order for food at Pack Provisions. She is a junior studying environmental science and is the student director of Pack Provisions.
At the University of Nevada, Reno, one in four students reported experiencing food insecurity, according to a 2020 Civic Engagement survey of all students done by the center for student engagement. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in the last academic year of 2019-20, visits to Pack Provisions nearly doubled to 4,211. The university and Pack Provisions are asking for help toward the $25,000 year-end goal to support the Wolf Pack members in need. Last year, hundreds donated and Pack Provisions was able to provide more than 150,000 meals for university students in need. "Supporting Pack Provisions helps guarantee hunger is not a barrier to student success," said Sophie Morton, student director of Pack Provisions. “The mission of Pack Provisions is to ensure all members of the university achieve success with access to daily resources. Pack Provisions provides social wellness through perishable and non-perishable foods, grocery funds, school supplies, hygiene items and more. A big part of what Pack Provisions provides to the university community is through donations.” Food insecurity in college is associated with many unfavorable outcomes including poor health, difficulty concentrating and even an increased dropout rate. Supporting students to help meet their basic needs is pertinent in their success, ensuring they remain focused on finishing their degree without the worry of where their next meal is coming from. Valerie Milanes, a student visitor to Pack Provisions, was grateful for the service in a time of need. “Food insecurity, I feel like, is like when there are so many other needs that are pressing in the moment when you don't have that ability to afford food,” she said. “Food is the last thing on your mind because you have X, Y, Z things in front of you that do take priority in that moment and then that's when you're like, oh, I can't eat this week. “It was a really tough time I actually depended a lot on Pack Provisions, in order to have just some kind of food to get me by until I could get back on my feet a little bit more and find another job and keep going with life. So, yeah, it was really important.” Support to Pack Provisions can make all the difference for students facing food insecurity and will help keep them on track to graduate. “The generosity the program received last year greatly enabled Pack Provisions to meet the unanticipated increased student needs due to the pandemic,” said Torrey Hood, university director of annual giving. “We appreciate the ongoing support of Pack Provisions from members of the Pack near and far. This year, some of the university’s corporate partners have also agreed to help.” Hood said community partners Plumas Bank, Bank of America and Greater Nevada Credit Union are all supporting Pack Provisions with generous matching gift donations. So far, with 44 days left for the fundraising drive, there have been 56 donors reaching 44% of the $25,000 goal. Pack Provisions exists through the generous support of the Associated Students of the University of Nevada, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Desert Farming Initiative and donors. According to the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, a $50 donation can fund 150 meals. This year-end, consider making a generous donation to Pack Provisions to help keep students healthy, fed and successful. Every gift, no matter the size, will positively impact a student’s life. To donate to the Pack Provisions 2021 year-end goal and for information: https://crowdfund.unr.edu/PackProvisions2021. For information about supporting Pack Provisions, contact Hood at torreyhood@unr.edu or 775-682-6544. Mike Wolterbeek is communications officer with the University of Nevada, Reno.
