Raider Food Pantry | Photo by Kelsie Tomlinson | The Wright State Guardian
The Raider Food Pantry and police force are gearing up for the annual campus food drive with the implementation of new traditions.
WSU Food Pantry
The Raider Food Pantry aids students who face an undersupply of food on campus.
“Any student who is registered for classes in the current semester can shop at the food pantry once a month,” food pantry staff member Tylar ONeal-White said.
The food pantry provides an abundance of non-perishable foods, including dry pasta, canned vegetables, cereal, seasonings, water and bread.
“Students will be asked to show a photo ID, verify their University ID number and fill out a short form. It is preferred students schedule an appointment to shop (campus username and password required to log in) ahead of time,” WSU’s official food pantry informational page shows.
According to ONeal-White, the food pantry is mostly donation based, providing an assortment of canned goods and breakfast foods, which are in high demand.
“The Food Pantry is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from nine a.m. to four p.m. I like to encourage students to get there before 3:30 p.m. just because of appointments, [which] are thirty minutes long,” ONeal-White said.
Food drive
In addition to the Raider Food Pantry food drive, the Wright State Police Department also does its own drive for donations to the pantry.
“The Police Department, for the last probably three, four years, have partaken in a ‘No-Shave’ fundraiser,” Director of Public Safety Kurt Holden said.
According to Holden, the men in the department will grow out facial hair and the women will dye hair or paint nails to participate and raise money to purchase food for the food pantry. The department will be raising money during the entire fall semester.
This year, the department adds on to this ‘No-Shave’ tradition.
“Daniel Palmer, Greg Sample and Burhan Kawosa are helping lead an opportunity to buzz my head to raise additional funds,” Holden said.
According to Holden, the department’s fundraising began a month early this past September to gain an extra month of donations from the team.
“I want to make sure that [the Food Pantry] is supported heavily through and of course, if that’s all it is, is me growing a beard and getting my head shaved to make sure students can have food. I mean, it’s a little price to pay, and my hair grows back,” Holden said.
How to get involved
According to ONeal-White, there are donation locations in 055 Student Union. The pantry is currently working to place a donation bin in the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library as well.
For students who are looking to do more than donate, there are additional opportunities.
“We are available for internship opportunities if anyone has them. We definitely, you know, can use the assistance from students as far as interning in the pantry goes,” ONeal-White said.
For more information on how to get involved or receive aid, visit Wright State’s Raider Food Pantry informational page. In emergency cases, students can call or text 937-260-0167.
