ENID, OK - January and February proved to be great months for the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Campus Cabinet Food Pantry with more than 1,000 pounds of non-perishable food donated and more than $4,000 in monetary donations given.
“These funds and food donations come at a great time as we have seen a definite increase in client usage of the pantry this school year,” said Angelia Case, coordinator of the campus pantry as well as academic projects assistant/media specialist. “In January alone, we spent more than $1,000 to stock the shelves for our clients.
“Last school year we averaged four to six clients a week submitting food request forms, but now we are averaging approximately 10 a week. Our highest number this spring semester has been 18 requests in one week. With these numbers, it doesn’t take long to deplete the food and funds needed to help our Ranger family.”
In February, Bank It: A Habit of Helping Foundation in Alva awarded the Campus Cabinet with a mini-grant of $2,500 to help with its growing needs, and Windy Ford of Alva donated $300 and helped bring in 861 pounds of non-perishable food for the pantry during a food drive at their business that carried over to the Ranger basketball games on Feb. 29. More than 10 large boxes were filled with non-perishable food by the end of the night. More than $100 also was generated from donations and ticket sales at the pantry’s Goodie Giveaway table.
Northwestern cross-country team members helped to move the full boxes to the pantry. Helping were Aaron Medrano, Laredo, Texas, junior majoring in mass communication; Edward Robledo, El Paso, Texas, freshman majoring in political science; Seriah Vess, Tulsa freshman undecided; Harley Woody, Oklahoma City freshman majoring in psychology; Sterlin Broomfield, head men’s/women’s cross-country coach; and Tim Lauderdale, associate director of athletics for internal operations.
Several hours were spent weighing and processing the food donations that have provided many of the most used items currently in the pantry along with several miscellaneous items that were added to the food request form for the clients.
The J.R. Holder Wellness Center staff spent the entire month of February collecting non-perishable food items during its annual Food Drive February for the pantry. In return for the patrons’ donations, employees did sit-ups for every item donated.
Fifteen employees each did 11 sit-ups for the 165 items donated. Those items weighed 110 pounds.
The campus pantry also had a food drive at the Feb. 24 Ranger basketball games where 119 pounds of food was donated, and more than $100 was raised from donations and the Goodie Giveaway.
In January, faculty in the Fine Arts Department performed a recital open to the public. The event was free, but those attending were asked to bring non-perishable food items and monetary donations for the pantry. That event raised $852 and 70 pounds of food.
Several other individuals, civic groups, clubs and businesses continue to donate money, food, personal hygiene products, coats/jackets, blankets, sheet sets, school supplies and more to help keep the pantry going.
“We are truly grateful for the support of our community,” Case said. “We can’t do what we do without you.”
Monetary donations are tax-deductible. Checks should be payable to Northwestern Foundation, and Campus Cabinet Food Pantry should be written in the memo line. They may be mailed to the Foundation office at 709 Oklahoma Blvd., Alva, OK 73717, or can be sent to Case at the same street address.
More information, including a list of the most needed items in the pantry, can be found at www.nwosu.edu/campus-cabinet. Wish list links from Walmart and Amazon are provided on the web page for those looking to order and send directly to the pantry.
Questions may be directed to Case at arcase@nwosu.edu or (580) 327-8577.
