{"id":114705,"date":"2019-08-14T16:36:11","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T22:36:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=114705"},"modified":"2021-03-17T08:56:37","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T14:56:37","slug":"open-to-everybody-clydes-cupboard-provides-free-healthy-food-to-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communique.uccs.edu\/?p=114705","title":{"rendered":"\u201cOpen to everybody\u201d: Clyde\u2019s Cupboard provides free, healthy food to students"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donated pantry staples fill the cabinets at Clyde’s Cupboard, UCCS’ on-campus food pantry.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For many students, missed meals, ramen noodle dinners and hunger are a reality of college life. Clyde\u2019s Cupboard, UCCS\u2019 on-campus food pantry, is expanding hours and creating new initiatives to ensure that all UCCS students have access to pantry staples, fresh vegetables and meal\u00a0vouchers with a goal of reducing food insecurity for all UCCS students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The food pantry, housed in the Student Life Office in the University\u00a0Center, has seen growing use among students \u2013 and growing donations from faculty,\u00a0staff\u00a0and\u00a0community partners.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c90% of the food in our\u00a0cupboard is donated<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0says Ray\u00a0<\/span>Fisco<\/span>, prevention and outreach manager in the Dean of Students Office who oversees Clyde\u2019s\u00a0Cupboard. \u201c<\/span>Our\u00a0campus is extremely supportive of this program. It wouldn\u2019t be what it is without the help and support of faculty, staff, and students<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A\u00a0<\/span>recent survey administered through the\u00a0<\/span>Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center revealed that 25% of UCCS student respondents have struggled with food insecurity during their time in college \u2013 meaning they have missed meals because of lack of funds or have faced hard choices between paying bills or buying groceries.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clyde\u2019s Cupboard, which is open to all UCCS students, aims to fill some of those nutritional gaps.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe want all students to know is that\u00a0<\/span>Clyde\u2019s Cupboard<\/span>\u00a0is not a need-based food pantry<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Fisco<\/span>\u00a0says. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to be food insecure to use it. You just\u00a0have to\u00a0be a student here at UCCS<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He\u00a0continues, \u201c<\/span>If you\u2019re hungry,\u00a0come use the\u00a0Cupboard. If you want a snack in between\u00a0classes,\u00a0come use the\u00a0Cupboard.\u00a0<\/span>We want any and all students to use it, even if they use it one time<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New this year are expanded hours and initiatives to increase the variety of foods available.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The\u00a0<\/span>Cupboard is open\u00a0<\/span>every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Students can pick up pantry staples like peanut butter, soup,\u00a0<\/span>beans<\/span>\u00a0and breakfast cereals, as well as grab-and-go options like macaroni and cheese cups, oatmeal and canned ready to eat meals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clyde\u2019s Cupboard will offer five Fresh Food Fridays using a new refrigerator acquired through a grant from UCCS\u2019 Green Action Fund. On August 30, September 20, October 11, November 22 and December 13, students can visit the Cupboard to pick up fresh fruits, vegetables,\u00a0<\/span>bread<\/span>\u00a0and milk. Dietitians associated with the Wellness Center will demonstrate how to prepare healthy meals for the week using the exact ingredients available to students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Cupboard has also partnered with Dining and Hospitality Services to provide an increased number of meal vouchers to students. Each meal card is good for a free, all-you-can-eat meal at Roaring Fork Dining Hall or the Lodge. To pick up a voucher, students should visit the Office of the Dean of Students in Main Hall between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Mondays with their student ID.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fisco<\/span>\u00a0stresses that although departments can keep an eye out for food drives sponsored by the Cupboard throughout the year \u2013 like the annual Battle of the Departments food drive and Food for Fines program\u00a0\u2013 any individual or department can organize a food drive or donate to the pantry at any time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur\u00a0campus [has] really rallied around the program<\/span>,\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Fisco<\/span>\u00a0says. \u201cThey are so supportive of this service. I think everybody wants to see it succeed, and I also think that everybody has a story of their own about how\u00a0<\/span>they have been impacted by food insecurity<\/span>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Clyde\u2019s Cupboard accepts all donations. Healthy, non-perishable items such as breakfast cereal, peanut butter, canned beans, boxes of pasta and on-the-go meals are especially helpful to students.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

See additional coverage of Clyde’s Cupboard:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Clyde\u2019s Cupboard provides needy students free food<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n