Bridging the mind and body: A mini pantry collaboration within a library

Shumaker, Jasmine; Yohannes, Semhar; Sannella, Lydia

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/121749 Copy

Description

Title

Bridging the mind and body: A mini pantry collaboration within a library

Author(s)

• Shumaker, Jasmine
• Yohannes, Semhar
• Sannella, Lydia

Issue Date

2023-09

Keyword(s)

• Food insecurity
• students
• academic library
• outreach
• Partnership

Abstract

Academic libraries and campus food pantries are on the front lines of feeding college students experiencing food insecurity. Academic libraries are uniquely positioned to address these students. Food pantries located in academic libraries have many advantages over traditional food pantries, such as longer hours, greater accessibility, and staff with more customer service experience. This paper will focus on the budding partnership between the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Albin O. Kuhn Library and Retriever Essentials, the on-campus food access initiative. We will examine the campus demographics, specifically campus food insecurity statistics, and how that contributes to the overall need for the Library mini pantry space. In addition, we will also discuss ways to identify key partners, the ideal location, and the best pantry model to implement. The urgency of this initiative encourages us to include “tips to getting started” at your own campus. Usage statistics will also be briefed, and best practices, including the need to include culturally inclusive foods, will be reviewed as well as our next steps for the mini pantry.

Series/Report Name or Number

Journal of Library Outreach and Engagement, vol. 3

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jloe.v3.1118

Copyright and License Information

• Copyright 2023 Jasmine Shumaker, Semhar Yohannes, Lydia Sannella
• This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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