UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — For some Penn State students, access to necessities like food and household supplies can be uncertain. The Lion’s Pantry, a student-run organization at University Park, works to address that need by providing free groceries and essential items to individuals with a Penn State ID.
Since opening in 2015, the Lion’s Pantry has expanded its efforts to support students experiencing food insecurity, while also raising awareness and building partnerships across campus and the surrounding community.
“The main way that we support student is providing basic needs,” said Tejas Gatehouse, a junior studying finance and president of the Lion’s Pantry. “It’s not just food, we also have toiletries like, laundry detergent, cleaning wipes and toilet paper.”
In addition to pantry staples, the organization collaborates with campus partners, including Days for Girls, to provide access to items such as feminine hygiene products, helping meet a wider range of student needs.
Behind the scenes, volunteers and student leaders work to keep the pantry organized and accessible, ensuring resources are distributed in a way that supports as many students as possible.
“We have volunteers and executive board members who focus on making sure everything is organized and accessible,” Gatehouse said.
Maintaining that level of support depends on a steady flow of donations. Unlike seasonal drives tied to holidays, the Lion’s Pantry relies on consistent contributions throughout the year.
“There are food-insecure individuals year-round, and we work to host regular donation drives to help ensure resources are available,” Gatehouse said.
Students who visit the pantry are encouraged to take what they need while recognizing that restocking the pantry happens weekly and is shared across the entire community. Maintaining stock for all is best managed when students visit regularly rather than stocking up in larger volume less frequently.
The Lions Pantry’s mission is to mitigate and address food insecurity at Penn State University Park campus, providing food and other resources directly to those in need. Within this past year, the Lion’s Pantry has had over 102,375 items distributed to guests and more than 13,767 pantry visits throughout the academic year.
Beyond accessing resources, students can get involved with the Lion’s Pantry by hosting a food drive or joining the organization’s GroupMe to learn more.
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