When Student Senate and Campus Safety met to discuss the issue of parking on campus, Student Senate brought an idea with them. The idea was to pay off parking tickets with items that would be donated to the Blue Jay Food Pantry. Knowing that it’s been done in the past, both Student Senate and Elizabethtown College wanted to offer the opportunity to students once again. Through Dec. 11, Etown students have the opportunity to pay off two tickets with food item donations, which can be used by Etown students whenever they feel necessary.
The Blue Jay Food Pantry is Etown’s food pantry which is committed to “ensuring that all students have regular access to healthy food options.” Founded in 2019, Director of Center for Community and Civic Engagement (CCCE) Javita Thompson was approached asking what items students had needed.
“They came to me and said ‘What do you need? What are some of the more popular staple items that students traditionally use?’” Thompson said. She then gave a list of items such as peanut butter, milk and even sanitary items like soap. Since then, Student Safety, Campus Safety and CCCE have worked together in order to make sure that the Blue Jay Food Pantry is properly stocked for any students that may need goods.
Since the decision to allow Etown students to pay two parking tickets with items that will be donated to the food pantry, Thompson says that the income of donated goods has stayed relatively similar. However, Thompson also says that the food pantry has seen an increased influx of students that use its services.
“We’ve actually had more folks coming in and utilizing the pantry than what we’ve had in the past,” Thompson said. “I love it when the people that are in the hallways back there where the pantry is say ‘You must’ve filled the pantry, there’s been so much chatter and so much traffic that’s come through this space.’”
While the increase in the number of students has been a pleasant surprise to the CCCE, it’s also come with its fair share of challenges. For the 2022-2023 school year, Etown welcomed 525 new students to its campus, a number that the school hasn’t seen in quite some time. With the addition of these students to the current student population, Etown has seen an increase in the services offered by the school being used. This is the same case with the food pantry, which has seen its supply rapidly diminish. According to Thompson, the food pantry has had difficulty keeping their shelves stocked, which is why programs such as the parking ticket payoff is so important.
While discussing the food pantry, Thompson stressed the importance of keeping food and other items on the shelves. Thompson said, “You’d be surprised at the students who actually utilize this space, as for folks that are experiencing any type of food needs or potential food insecurities. It’s getting colder out, so walking to Giant looks so much different.”
The food pantry is open to all students, regardless if they are facing food insecurity. In fact, the food pantry is also used by students who stay on campus during holiday breaks. According to Thompson, many international students stay on campus while the College breaks for holidays. While Etown does have different dining options available for those who are on campus, there are times when those dining options aren’t open. Because of this, the CCCE wants to make sure that the students who stay on campus during holidays have a food option that is available to them. “Having that pantry with both fresh produce type items as well as staple items like peanut butter and jelly is important for students to be able to have food and have choices,” Thompson said.
While allowing students to pay off parking tickets with food items that are needed helps the students themselves, it also benefits the food pantry. If you would like to make a donation, you can purchase items from the Blue Jay Food Pantry’s Amazon Wishlist or drop off items outside of the Pantry in BSC 251 or CCCE located in BSC 247.
