Ole Miss Food Bank
OXFORD, Miss. – The University of Mississippi Associated Student Body is donating hundreds of dollars’ worth of disposable plates, napkins and eating utensils to the Ole Miss Food Bank to support efforts to alleviate hunger among students in the community.
Last fall, ASB invited people from all parts of campus to take part in tailgating at Everybody’s Tent before four home football games. Over the season, ASB entertained and fed more than 3,000 guests, providing a space for everyone to gather in the Grove.
“We had great food at Everybody’s Tent, but afterwards we had extra napkins, plastic utensils and plates,” says Gregory Alston, ASB president. “After talking with our advisers, we decided that donating these items to the Ole Miss Food Bank would be the best way to continue our impact on campus.”
The donation “gives us an opportunity to have conversations about the accessibility of healthy food on college campuses,” Alston said.
The Ole Miss Food Bank relies on volunteer support and donations, and this contribution is greatly appreciated, said Jessica Brouckaert, the food bank’s founding student director.
“Canned goods and other nonperishables are essential, but people often forget the utensils we need to eat,” she said. “We want student organizations and campus departments to keep in mind hungry students before getting rid of useful items.”
In 2010-2011, Ole Miss had roughly 5,400 undergraduate students – about 31 percent of the student population – who were Pell grant recipients, according to statistics from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. These grants are provided to low-income students on a need-based scale. Including the medical school and four regional campuses, the UM Department of Financial Aid provides $230.5 million for need-based and merit-based scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs to promote access to post-secondary education
The Ole Miss Food Bank does not have set standards for students to use its services, Brouckaert said. “We are accessible for all students, and we want to be as anonymous as possible,” she said. “All you need to show us is your ID card.”
Students at universities across the country – including most SEC schools – have started similar programs to address issues of food accessibility. Brouckaert established the Ole Miss Food Bank in fall 2011 as a member of the ASB Senate.
In Oxford, five different nonprofits help feed hungry students in Lafayette County. Those include the Oxford Food Pantry, Love Packs, Meals on Wheels, More than a Meal and Good Food for Oxford Schools.
The Ole Miss Food Bank is housed in Kinard Hall, Room 213. Its operating hours can be found on the organization’s website. For more information, contact Jessica Brouckaert at jgbrouck@go.olemiss.edu.