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Kalena Speicher began working at ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s Flashes Fighting Hunger food pantry in January 2023 and during that year she witnessed a huge increase in the number of people coming in for fresh meat, fruits, vegetables and staples.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµincrease has been steady since the pandemic, when the pantry remained open to serve the needs of the community, according to Amanda Paulus, senior director of Community Engaged Learning and External Relations.

In addition, there has been an increase in the number of international students using the pantry this past year as international student enrollment increased at ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ.

Here is Speicher, an AmeriCorps member majoring in political science, talking with ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Today about the influx of pantry users.

WHO USES THE PANTRY?

In 2023, the pantry served:

• 909 unique households
• 2,046 unique people
• A total of 12,400 pantry visits

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnumbers really ticked up in December 2023, when on average, the pantry served about 120 unique individuals each week at its bi-weekly food pantry. This was a 40% increase from Spring 2023, a 70% increase from this time last December 2022, and a 140% increase from December 2021, according to Paulus. 

At each pantry visit, approximately 60% of users are ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ students, 20% are faculty and staff (mostly adjunct faculty and hourly staff), and 20% are community members.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµnumbers do not reflect the monthly drive-through food distribution that is run in partnership with the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank at Dix Stadium, which also serves over 100 households per month. 

Flashes Fighting Hunger is a student-run, volunteer-driven organization that was started by students in 2011. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµoperation recovers unused food products from local grocers, farmers, food banks and ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ dining services and uses it to feed food-insecure students, faculty/staff, and the greater community. ¾«¶«Ó°Òµpantry demonstrates ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ's deep connections with industry partners.

WHERE DOES THE FOOD COME FROM?

¾«¶«Ó°Òµprogram runs 52 weeks a year and is led by a group of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ student managers who oversee teams of volunteers to run daily operations. 

Food is recovered primarily from Trader Joe’s in Woodmere, Ohio, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Dining Services, the Akron Canton Regional Foodbank, and other small local grocers, farmers and restaurants that have food waste.

Financially, the program relies on university funds, individual donors such as James Tinnin and the Portage Foundation, corporate donors such as Meijer, and small grants, Paulus said. 

By repurposing the food, Flashes Fighting Hunger partners with the ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ Nutrition and Dietetics program, whose students use the food to prepare approximately 150 meals per week for local social service agencies such as Kent Social Services, Center of Hope in Ravenna and Miller Community House.

Flashes Fighting Hunger also has a vehicle that holds pop-up pantries throughout the county, at such locations as the Portage Metropolitan Housing Authority sites. 

HOW DO I MAKE AN APPOINTMENT?

Spring 2024 Pantry Schedule  

Tuesdays  

• Appointments from 3-5:30 p.m. 
• Walk-ins from 5:30-6 p.m.  

Fridays  

• Appointments from 3-5:30 p.m. 
• Walk-ins from 5:30-6 p.m. 

Appointments open one week before the desired date. . 

If you are a current ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ student and continue to experience food insecurity or have challenges meeting your basic needs, please contact the CARES Center (Crisis, Advocacy Resources Education and Support Center) in ¾«¶«Ó°Òµâ€™s Division of Student Life.

¾«¶«Ó°ÒµCARES Center works collaboratively with students to secure on- and off-campus resources that meet their financial, food, housing and mental well-being needs. 

Learn more about Flashes Fighting Hunger.

WRITTEN BY: APRIL MCCLELLAN-COPELAND