Food pantry keeps students fed during the holiday break

NOVEMBER 15, 2021 — Roadrunners will have a hot meal this Thanksgiving holiday, thanks to the assistance of the UTSA Whataburger Resource Room.

This year, the Whataburger Resource Room is bringing back its “Thanksgiving in a Bag" initiative, a tradition that started in 2017.

The project provides students with food bags filled with Thanksgiving goodies such as green beans, Hormel Compleats Turkey & Dressing, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and apple pie so they can enjoy a holiday meal during the break.

“Thanksgiving in a Bag provides our students with a little taste of comfort on a longer weekend break,” said Nikki Lee, senior associate director of the UTSA Student Union, which oversees the Whataburger Resource Room. “Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks and we strive to make sure our students know we are thankful for them with a little holiday meal.”

“We strive to make sure our students know we are thankful for them with a little holiday meal.”

“We know that not everyone has access to a kitchen so we buy items that can be made in a microwave,” Lee continued. “It is so important for our students to have a meal they don’t have to put together and think about on this holiday.”

The UTSA community can help assemble the Thanksgiving bags during Light the Plaza at the Downtown Campus from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17. The community can also go by the Student Union Window Lounge on the Main Campus from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, November 18, to lend a hand. These two events are part of a week-long series of events in recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

“We want everyone to get engaged in serving our students by making a few bags and writing some Happy Thanksgiving cards to help spread the care and support we all have for them,” Lee said.

Students can pick up prepared bags during normal business hours of the Whataburger Resource rooms on both campuses, starting Monday, November 22, through Wednesday, November 24.

“We try and have a bag for every student who visits us on a weekly basis, but they will be available while supplies last,” Lee said. “Students can still visit the Whataburger Resource Room on both campuses on those days and get the daily allotment of food and supplies in addition to the Thanksgiving in a Bag. So, it is a great time to pick up fresh produce, bread and milk along with the other staples we are able to offer on our shelves before the holiday weekend.”

The Whataburger Resource rooms will return to normal operating hours on Monday. November 29.

The food pantry debuted on the Main Campus in 2017. Originally known as the Roadrunner Pantry, the resource is stocked with food items, toiletries, school supplies and essentials for students in need of a little assistance. To date, students have visited the pantry nearly 22,908 times, Lee said.

“The Whataburger Resource Room is life-saving. They provide food and other necessary essentials for us students and staff,” said Cazmier Rutley, a sophomore at UTSA. "We can visit every day, Monday through Friday, to pick up the things we need. There's food, household items and even animal food. It’s such a great way to extend a hand for us in need.”

This summer, Whataburger signed a three-year commitment to the program as part of the restaurant’s Whataburger Feeding Student Success Program, which helps college students succeed. That deal led to major renovations to enhance the space, which is now co-branded with Whataburger and UTSA décor.

“Since the pandemic, we are serving over triple the number of students we were serving pre-pandemic, so we know this program is providing an important and vital service,” Lee said.

In February 2020, UTSA expanded its reach to students who attend classes at the Downtown Campus, joining efforts with Whataburger to open the Downtown Campus Whataburger Resource Room.

Those who wish to support the Thanksgiving in Bag initiative can do so by donating non-perishable items, including instant/microwavable items. A list of items can be found on the Whataburger Resource Room's Amazon Wish List.

— Valerie Bustamante Johnson