The Food Pantry at UTRGV: Anyone Deserves a Meal
There have been times when you are living in the dorms at the university, and you sometimes struggle with enough money to get a meal. It can be a challenge as a student when your bank account is empty, that is why I spoke with Katia Valdez-Rodriguez, who works at the Food Pantry and discuss what they do and how they help students by signing them up for free food.
- When did the food pantry start?
It was in 2014 when the idea came about to have a food pantry to help the students. It was an idea that the university together as a whole collectively thought of finding the food pantry. For example, the Department of Student Rights and Responsibilities is kind of overseeing my supervisors here right now, Hindman Richardson, and his department came up with the idea among other organizations that also are involved in things such as CFSI campus food security initiative.
- What should students do if they have a food allergy?
One of the first basic questions that we ask is if you have an electronic form online and based on that we kind of get an idea on what items need to work. We have a lot of teams that have allergies maybe but either way, we don’t get much theory products needed work or from but yes definitely need to accommodate that. We also accommodate those who are religious and have restrictions based on their religion, they have a request, as well. We have canned items and nonperishables, which is the most common thing that we have our back back to stuff for example, rice, and beans. We always get a little back to beanies, but yet the majority is fresh vegetables, canned vegetables, and candidates.
- Where do you get your donations from to give to the students?
The Rio Grande Valley Food Bank sponsors us so they give us a grant and we do monthly orders to import taxes and they send us a credit limit of everything here.
- Has there been a moment where you felt vulnerable or grateful to be volunteering?
It can be heartfelt at times. Especially our international students that are in the dorms or they are paying for housing somewhere else closer to the campus and the hope is negative families cannot turn them over or don’t work? It’s very expensive for students to attend any other university. There are times when a student will always come over to us and they go, “I’m so glad that you guys are offering this service without you. I wouldn’t be able to have something to eat.” It is very rewarding to see the students that do come every week. We have a lot of students who are regulars that come in and we as a staff already know them and know their stories and it is very good to be able to help them get a meal whenever we can.
- What can students do to volunteer or help?
On our webpage, we advertise that we have volunteer options. For now, we have one volunteer working currently with us. It’s very easy for anyone to volunteer; go to the Engagement Zone, look for the Food Pantry page and sign up and then you will get an email about donations. If you look around the hall, we have a lot of yellow trash bins. The students can come into the building and deposit any food items that they have in the bins. Or they are also welcome to come into the office and say, “Hey, I have so many donations or my department has on donations” and we can go with a yellow cart and get them if there’s a lot or we can talk them over here. Definitely, we are always looking for volunteers and donations.
“I would like all of them to know about the Food Pantry but you don’t have to love the show to come and get the food from it. Actually all are welcome. If you want to get this quickly enough for yourself before a family member maybe that lives with them or if they know someone that’s struggling to spread the word because maybe you don’t need it but there’s a good friend here in Detroit that needs it. Also to know that if they have anything extra that helps with no they’re not going to eat, for example, they bought the wrong flavor Pop Tarts they bought cinnamon wanted they don’t like them. They can come to drop them off. They just drop them away because they know they’re not gonna eat. Yeah. Everyone’s got to stay afloat. “ – Katia Valdez-Rodriguez
Remember, no one should feel ashamed about needing help, especially when it comes to getting something to eat. These services exist because people need them. If you need help, go to your local Food Drive at the campuses in RGV at Brownsville at the Calvary (BCAVL 101 and 102) or in Edinburg at the University Center (EUCTR 114), call (956)-882-7126 or visit their website https://www.utrgv.edu/foodpantry/ for more information.
