What we shared:

In January, Signal Cleveland visited Cleveland State University’s Lift Up Vikes! resource center and food pantry. 

Food insecurity among college students is a big deal. About 40% of students at two-year colleges and 30% at four-year institutions nationwide reported not having access to enough food, according to one 2020 report.

Megan Ashwill, coordinator of the resource center and food pantry, said that need is evident on Cleveland State’s campus because of inflation. 

“Students have been cleaning off our shelves of items that are more expensive, items that they can’t purchase on their own,” Ashwill said earlier this year. 

Hygiene products, Ashwill noted, were some of the first items to go. Those don’t get regularly donated to the pantry. Plus, since they’re expensive, buying those items can really cut into the $36,000 the university is providing the center this fiscal year.

The Cleveland State pantry also relies on things like its partnership with the Cleveland Food Bank and donations to stock its shelves, too. 

What’s happened since:

Demand for the center’s offerings has “overwhelmingly increased” this year, Ashwill told Signal Cleveland in December. 

During the first week of classes this fall, Ashwill said, between 250 and 300 people were lining up to shop LUV’s offerings on a “first come, first serve” basis.  

“We were not able to serve everybody,” she said. “People were cutting in line, arguing. People were missing classes because they didn’t want to miss out on getting food.”

That pushed officials to launch a reservation system. Now, 384 weekly slots open each Monday. Students go online to reserve a time. Those reservations go quick, Ashwill said.

“If you’re not there at 1:30 in the afternoon, these spots go like Taylor Swift Eras tour tickets or like Beyoncé tour tickets,” Ashwill said. “Within 10 minutes, they’re gone.”  

So far in 2023, the pantry has served nearly 8,100 students, distributing more than 112,480 pounds of food. 

And next:

Ashwill doesn’t think the need will decrease anytime soon. The center will offer a few winter break shopping days for students.Community members can access the pantry, too.

As for next semester, Ashwill said the center wants to expand its offerings, noting the need for more vegetarian options as well as Halal food. 

And LUV! is still accepting various types of donations, including money, from community members. Find out more by visiting the pantry’s website here.