(April 10, 2018) -- A new survey exposes a hidden reality on college campuses across the country. The first of its kind survey released this month found 36 percent of students on U.S. college campuses do not get enough to eat. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is tackling this food insecurity crisis.
The Roadrunner Pantry opened on the UTSA Main Campus in March 2017 with a vision to provide resources to students so they can focus on being successful in the classroom.
Set up like a grocery store, any UTSA student with a valid student ID can shop for non-perishable foods such as peanut butter, canned vegetables and fruit, pasta, soup and even toiletries, free of charge.
Since opening, the pantry has:
“The Roadrunner Pantry has been a blessing that has allowed me to have access to food and other necessities at times when I needed it the most,” said Alicia Veliz, a junior business management student from Austin. “Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. It’s amazing to see how much a campus cares for its students by providing these resources.”
In addition to addressing the immediate need of students, the pantry promises to make a deeper impact on the campus and community. In the past year, the pantry has raised awareness to the reality of food insecurity through food drives, events and developing partnerships.
In recognition of Hunger Awareness Month last September, the pantry hosted a National Hunger Action Day to encourage the UTSA community to take action to end hunger. This event featured a cooking demonstration, food drive, film screening and guest speakers from the San Antonio Food Bank.
Additionally, pantry staff worked with the community to support the pantry’s mission. Local grocery retailer H-E-B generously provided a $3,000 gift, a crowdfunding campaign raised $5,111, and UTSA Dining committed to providing 1,800 meals to students in need. Every penny raised goes to fill the pantry shelves.
Various departments, colleges, and organizations on campus have come together to donate time, food, and money toward making the pantry a success. Efforts include the Graduate School hosting monthly campaigns and encouraging civic engagement among students. Rhonda Minten, lecturer in the UTSA Department of History, encourages her students to donate more than 200 pounds of food per month. Since the pantry relies on donations to thrive, departments and organizations are asked to host food collection drives to maintain long-term sustainability of this campus initiative.
Houston native Kareem Rose, a UTSA multidisciplinary studies student, is grateful for the community’s generosity.
“The Roadrunner Pantry helped me during Hurricane Harvey, as it affected my family, and throughout school year,” Rose said. “Every student is welcome. Don’t feel shy to come get food if you need it.”
This year, the pantry plans to expand services to reach more students. In the fall, pantry staff will be working with different departments and offices to add educational programming for students who visit to include budgeting, financial management and nutrition on a budget.
The Roadrunner Pantry is located on the first floor of the Student Union (SU 1.04.06), near the UPS Store. It’s open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week.
Learn more about the Roadrunner Pantry, including operating hours and how you can donate.
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This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.
North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main CampusAt this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.
Arts Building Recital Hall, Main CampusRoadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.
Student Union Paseo, Main CampusJoin us for a tribute to Willie Velásquez, honoring the legacy of Willie Velásquez, a pivotal figure in shaping the history of Latino and Hispanic participation in the American voting process. Delve into his life and contributions as a champion of Latino voting rights. Moderated by UTSA's Teresa Niño, the event will feature influential voices, including Jane Velásquez, María Antonietta Berriozábal, Dora Oliva, and Anthony Gonzales.
Buena Vista Building, Gregory Luna Room, Downtown CampusCelebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St.The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
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We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.