Possible locations for a student-food pantry are currently being explored by members of the Val R. Christensen Service Center. The program, tentatively referred to as S.N.A.C. for Student Nutrition Access Center, would serve needy students and would potentially be a hub for information on nutrition.

Varuna Ponnamperuma, assistant director of the service center, said S.N.A.C. is planned as an extension of the Cache Valley food pantry. USU would continue to participate in food drives for the pantry, like Stuff a Bus, but university faculty and clubs would also be able to donate or organize drives for goods that would stay on campus for the benefit of single students. Currently, the food pantry is only able to serve married students or students with family.

Ponnamperuma said the idea for the food pantry came at a recent training conference with service organizations from other area universities. Southern Utah University presented its student pantry and after discussing with organizers at the Cache Valley pantry as well as campus organizations like SAAVY, Graduate Student Services, Re-entry and others, service center staff decided there was enough need at USU to implement a similar program.

Jordan Hunt, a service center volunteer, came on board and for the most part shouldered the nutrition side of S.N.A.C. Potentially Hunt would like to see the program giving basic nutrition and food-pyramid instruction, as well as outreach programs and conferences on healthy eating. In time, Hunt said, the program could grow to include things like basic hygene amenities and soup nights.

“Jordan had the idea, Jordan had the mission,” Ponnamperuma said.

S.N.A.C. will likely rely on help from the Cache County pantry in the initial stages, but Hunt said he would like to see the USU pantry giving back more than it receives.

“Eventually I’d like to see us providing more than what we need,” Hunt said. “That way we can be a supplement for (Cache Community Food Pantry) and benefit the community.”

Cache Community Food Pantry currently uses financial guidelines for establishing need and Hunt said that given the nature of college students, S.N.A.C. would be considerably more open door. Neither he nor Ponnamperuma were overly worried about students potentially abusing the program.

“You can tell when somebody walks through door if they need it,” Hunt said.

Ponnamperuma said, “I pretty much trust the students.”

Cache Community Food Pantry director Matt Whitacre said the primary concern is making sure the food will go to people who need it. He uses government poverty standards to define financial requirements and said S.N.A.C. organizers will have to find their own way to treat need. While there is the potential for abuse, Whitacre is confident in the local student body.

“Never underestimate college students and their ability to do things,” Whitacre said.

Since S.N.A.C. is a new program, the Cache County pantry is there to assist and supplement, Whitacre said.

“If they find themselves short we’re happy to give,” Whitacre said.

For the most part, finding a space is the only hangup in the development process, Ponnamperuma said. Once a location is secured, S.N.A.C. is “golden,” Ponnamperuma said. Ponnamperuma said he would like to see S.N.A.C. in a central, visible location to facilitate donations and raise awareness. The service center staff is open to suggestions and welcomes participation from campus clubs and organizations in making S.N.A.C. become a reality.

“The sooner the better,” ASUSU Service Vice President David Knighton said. “January would be a cool time to unveil it.”

– b.c.wood@aggiemail.usu.edu