SU Opens New 'Food for the Flock' Student Food Pantry

SALISBURY, MD---Last academic year, students from the Presidential Citizen Scholars program at Salisbury University’s Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) examined homelessness in the City of Salisbury and surrounding area with the goal of assisting those affected.

The results hit a lot closer to home than they expected.

Meeting with Dr. Dane Foust, SU vice president of student affairs, they learned homelessness and food insecurity impacts students at many college campuses throughout the U.S. — including some at SU.

That knowledge shocked many of the PACE students, including senior Drew Lacouture. On Wednesday, October 10, he joined University leaders and partners in opening SU’s new “Food for the Flock” student food pantry, one of more than 500 similar programs on campuses nationally.

As the organization’s president and coordinator of operations, Lacouture worked with SU’s ShoreCorps AmeriCorps program throughout the summer, promoting the organization, developing its operations and collecting donations.

The opening, on the ground floor of the Commons, next to the SU Bookstore, marked the culmination of several months of planning. The process included visiting other student food pantries in the region at campuses such as Wesley College, Wor-Wic Community College and Delaware State University.

“It’s a pretty ambitious system, but a practical one,” Lacouture said. “We already have a lot of amazing volunteers.”

All volunteers sign confidentiality agreements not to disclose the names or details of students using the pantry, he added.

This semester, the pantry will be stocked with non-perishable items, though Lacouture hopes to be able to introduce fresh and refrigerated foods, such as meat, starting next year.

SU students interested in volunteering should email Food for the Flock.

For more information call 410-677-5054 or visit the SU website.