Food pantry takes over Finch Fieldhouse to help fight hunger

Hunger and homelessness is a problem in Isabella County. Students can make a difference just by volunteering.

The Public Service Residential Community (PSRC) sponsored a food truck from the Community Compassion Network Saturday. Finch Fieldhouse transformed into a Mobile Food Pantry.  The pantry was essentially a free grocery store for those in need.

The PSRC had tables set up with games and donations to entertain people waiting in line to get groceries. The tables included card games and giveaways, a book giveaway and a video game station. There was also a basketball to win hygiene products. The most popular section was bingo.

Volunteers started arriving at 8 a.m. for general set-up. The food truck arrived around 10 a.m. and volunteers from across campus were ready to unload and sort the items.

These volunteers came from a variety of sectors of campus. Students from Greek life, the Leadership Institute and the Honors Program made a large presence. With the large amount of volunteers, it make unloading a large truck an easy feat.

Students were given a cart and walked through the line helping people carry the groceries to their car.  Food provided included fruit, vegetables, bread and even meat. Over 200 families were provided aid through this single food pantry.

The participants of the food pantry were kind and grateful for the food they were given.

“You volunteers are awesome,” said one person who asked to keep their identity confidential. “I wanted to take the time to say thank you. I don’t know many college students that would donate their time to help us.  Without you all, my husband and I would go hungry.”

Most of the students that volunteering were humble and happy to help.

“I volunteered because I love meeting all the new people and feeling connected to the Mt. Pleasant community not just the university community,” sophomore Becky Dalsanto said.