The Saluki Food Pantry is an on-campus organization striving to help food insecure students. 

The pantry has had a large impact on SIU, especially during COVID-19; when faced with the epidemic, the pantry created “summer emergency food packs for those in need,” Kent Epplin, associate director of the Student Center said. 

Between March 2020 and the fall semester, the Food Pantry gave out over 1,000 emergency food bags to those in need, using almost all of their supplies due to the lack of food drives.  

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Typically the Food Pantry has a food drive over Thanksgiving; however, this year the drive has been moved to April 29 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the south side of the Student Center. This food drive is to allow staff and students to get involved and donate.

The pantry started around three years ago, according to Epplin. The pantry is located in the student center and is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  

Food that the pantry gives out is free to students, and individuals receive enough food for every family member living in a household to last for three days. 

“To acquire most donations, food drives are done either by the pantry or organizations such as Greek life, or RSOs,” Epplin said. 

Donations that are accepted include canned goods such as beans, tuna, fruit, vegetables, rice, noodles, and toilet paper. To find out more about what is accepted at the food pantry or volunteer, contact them at [email protected]. 

Staff reporter Riley Hemken can be reached at [email protected].

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