PCCE- Wilkes University VISTA

The Y2 project will focus on food access and food security across campus at Wilkes University. As our project continues into its second year the mission also moves forward. A main priority will always be to reduce the stigma around seeking food assistance. In Y2, with the PA Hunger Free Campus Designation Application submitted, the focus will now turn towards leveraging that distinction in our work: applying for grants, creating sustainable avenues of funding for the work we do, creating SNAP resources for our campus community. Currently, there are no clear processes or procedures in place if a student needs assistance or support accessing off-campus resources, such as SNAP. There is no clear place on campus where a student can stop by to receive knowledgeable support in this area. This project would look to further the development of the food pantry on campus through marketing, access, available goods, and funding. This project would also seek to create a known space on campus where students can come to ask questions, find out what options they have (on and off campus), and how they can move forward with those options. Our partner agency, CEO/Weinberg Northeast Regional Foodbank has consistently supported our work for the last four years and remains committed to bettering the lives of our students. They have allowed us to serve nearly 90 students a month during the school year in The Colonel’s Cupboard. A large portion of our traditional, full-time, student body falls in the low to very low income range, which further indicates that this is a needed resource on campus. A VISTA member can be a part of this solution by providing full-time attention to the project and bringing about clear and dramatic change while ensuring we maintain compliance with state standards for the Hunger-Free Campus Designation. As a university, it is time we invested in a project that benefits the well-being of our students beyond the classroom.