Baylor University Supporters Rush to Restock Near-Empty Shelves of Campus Food Pantry During Weather Emergency
‘We will be unpacking boxes for days,’ says director of Student Success Initiatives
Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-709-5959
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WACO, Texas (March 3, 2021) – During the recent winter storms that wreaked havoc across Texas, The Store food pantry at Baylor University provided food items for students in need, as well as for those who found themselves without power, heat or water at their apartments or homes.
The Store is a campus food pantry that provides students in need with supplemental food so they can bring their best to campus and have the strongest likelihood of achieving academic success. By placing a food pantry in the Paul L. Foster Success Center, the University provides support that students can use to thrive at Baylor, said Michelle Cohenour, director of Student Success Initiatives.
From Feb. 15-22, The Store experienced its highest usage ever, keeping its doors open to students regardless of the weather and even operating an "extended food pantry" at the McLane Student Life Center, which served as an emergency warming location for students.
As the sun came out and the ice and snow melted, the still-empty local grocery stores presented The Store with some challenges to restock its shelves. So staff posted an appeal on The Store's Instagram and Facebook pages for followers to help fight hunger and provide relief to Baylor students through its Amazon Wish List of most-needed items.
It didn't take long for the Baylor Family of parents, alumni and many others to respond in kind. On Monday, March 1, The Store received a call from the Baylor mailroom that two semi-trucks had arrived with at least 100 boxes filled with microwavable meals, shelf-stable milk, breakfast and protein bars, protein drinks and Gatorade. Another 50 boxes arrived on Wednesday.
"We have been overwhelmed – in a great way – by the Baylor Family's generosity during this time. We will be unpacking boxes for days," Cohenour said.
Because of the generosity of the Baylor Family, The Store's shelves are stocked and ready for students in need. The Store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 047 on the lower level, east wing of the Sid Richardson Building. Students only need to bring their Baylor ID card for swipe access. Email thestore@baylor.edu for more information.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.