Flash’s Food Pantry officially opened in April, serving as a resource for students on the at East Liverpool campus who may need an occasional boost with putting food on their tables.
Located on the basement floor of Purinton Hall, directly across the hall from the elevator, Flash’s Food Pantry is stocked with non-perishable food items, as well as personal hygiene products.
The food pantry is open each Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students are welcome to stop in during those hours and select needed items. There is no need for referral, nor do students need to show personal income information. In the case of an emergency, the Pantry can be opened on an as-needed basis.
Members of the Student Leadership Council are staffing the pantry and will be on hand to assist students with their selections.
When first opened in mid-April, the Food Pantry contained more than 1,300 items, all donated by employees and students. There are several “Pantry Pillars” on campus who choose to donate specific items on an ongoing basis. The Pantry Pillars are individuals and/or departments who agreed to support the food pantry initiative earlier this academic year, spearheaded by Dan Dankovich, Ph.D.
“I am overwhelmed by the generosity of our East Liverpool Campus,” Dr. Dankovich noted. “You should all be proud! Pantry Pillars are encouraged to continue with their donations because we still need your help. We’ve received donations from Advisory Board members, students, faculty and staff. The response to this is incredible.”
Dr. Dankovich added that donation bins are located in Purinton Hall and the Mary Patterson Building so that anyone can make donations year-round. The Student Leadership Council will have a wider campus presence when the new academic year begins and will spearhead events and projects to support the pantry’s needs.
Flash’s Food Pantry is housed in a space that was underutilized in Purinton Hall. Shelving units that were removed from the library, now span one wall of the pantry and hold items such as cereals, soups, tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, sauce, noodles, peanut butter, jelly, baby food, condiments and other food items. A refrigerator, from an anonymous donor, holds fresh food items such as milk and eggs.
Also instrumental in the opening of Flash’s Food Pantry was Megan Rodgers, laboratory assistant at Kent State East Liverpool, who helped with organizing the project and worked tirelessly to get the food items shelved.
To find out more about the Columbiana Campuses, visit www.kent.edu/columbiana.
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Cutline A: Members of the Student Leadership Council are taking an active role in managing Flash’s Food Pantry on the East Liverpool Campus. They include (from left): Kristin Hanna, vice president; Jordan Croxall, president; Melissa Kolman, treasurer; Sydney Voorhees, secretary; and Ray Mills, member.
Cutline B: (From left) Kristin Hanna, Sydney Voorhees, Dr. Dan Dankovich, Jordan Croxall, Melissa Kolman and Ray Mills.
Cutline C: Sydney Voorhees and Ray Mills check out the donations.