The DU Food Pantry, run by the Center for Sustainability, is located below the school store next to the ID card office. Per the center’s website, it exists “as a free and open resource for anyone with a DU ID number to supplement their weekly food supply in times of need.” 

Ella Marsden, one of the pantry’s support staffers, clarified the goal of the pantry, as it relates to the center’s goal of breaking the stigma of food insecurity. “Education is a goal of ours,” she said. “We never want anyone to feel bad or out of place for experiencing food insecurity.” 

Since Feb. 2, the pantry has been closed. The center announced along with the closure that it would be transitioning its food pantry program to be more equitable for its patrons, and also more sustainable for its team and budget. 

Ella Marsden, a food pantry support staff member, explained why the pantry has been closed and how her team has been working behind the scenes to find other ways to address the community food insecurity. Marsden said that in March of last year, the food pantry was running smoothly. 

“There weren’t a lot of people coming in, I don’t think many people knew about it, so we were operating really well.” However Ella talked about how, as the food pantry has become more popular, it has been challenging to keep up with its demand. This year, many new patrons began coming in, and the donation-based system wasn’t equipped to handle it. 

“I think word just spread, and we got so much busier,” she said. “It’s just exponentially bigger; we just haven’t figured out how to sustain that and meet the need of the community.” Before closing its doors, the food pantry had begun receiving weekly donations from Sodexo and reaching out to nearby grocery stores to source extra food.

Marsden stressed that although the Food Pantry is closed for now, those behind the scenes have been finding other ways to get food to the community. One of the Center’s initiatives is its community dinners hosted on Friday nights at 6 p.m. At these dinners, students come and eat center-supplied food cooked by other students. Any student can volunteer to cook, presenting the opportunity for some to share traditional cuisines and others to enjoy. Last week, the center partnered with the Native Student Alliance to serve bison stew and hosted a workshop on fry bread, an indigenous tradition. Students can sign up for these events on Crimson Connect.

The Food Pantry is also looking at a more decentralized strategy as a possible replacement. To disperse the demand and help more people find what they need, the center is considering setting up multiple spots around campus where students can get food. Marsden said doing everything out of one location makes things difficult and time-consuming. “When I arrive at two o’clock to open, there’s already a line of 15 people at the door.” She said, “Not everybody gets what they need or want.”

When asked if the center had plans to reopen, Marsden said the center’s goal is to be operating in some form starting Thursday, Feb. 29. To achieve this, the center is considering their de-centralized approach, and also having pre-packed bags that people can come grab. Ella said that anyone interested should watch for new information on the Center for Sustainability’s website. 

Anyone interested in donating either food or money to the Food Pantry can donate at the food drives around campus or can text DUFOODPANTRY to 41444.