Thunder Food Pantry Opens at FDLTCC
CLOQUET, Minn. – Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College students have an expanded food pantry to help them achieve food security.
Thunder Food Pantry opened last week, increasing what had originally been in on-campus housing prior to the pandemic.
Organizers say all Minnesota State campuses are working to have this type of pantry available. It also means working with Second Harvest and Journey Christian Church to bring food and household items to campus.
“The hardest part was taking those steps to set it up,” says Ariel Johnson, Seek to Learn Academy Director at FDLTCC, “finding a space, making a move, and getting a more formal process for our students.”
Students who do want to have access to the pantry will need to fill out a form and have it reviewed by the college. Johnson says it isn’t to prohibit some people from getting items, but gives the college the chance to see if those students are also available for other services that can help them with their everyday lives off campus.
“Some people picture the student as being just out of high school. For us we have the single parent. We have working families. So we’re really supporting a diverse group of students.”
Johnson adds since Thunder Food Pantry opened up in early February, around a dozen new students have voiced interest in having access to the pantry.
Donations are also being accepted from the public. They include:
Meal items: pancake mix, syrup, bread, peanut butter, jelly, pasta noodles, pasta sauce, rice, rice mixes, tortillas, breakfasts cereals
Snack items: nuts, fruit cups, crackers, granola bars, trail mix, chips, salsa
Canned items: canned beans, canned meats, chili, stews, soups
Other Food Items: flour, sugar, cooking oil, honey, condiments, salt/pepper
Personal/Household items: dish soap, hand soap, tissue, toilet paper, laundry detergent/pods, toothbrushes, toothpaste, body wash
Other: clean, gently used winter coats and accessories through the winter season, monetary donations that will pay for items in greatest need
