Bruin Community Pantry
The Bruin Community Pantry is an Office of Student Life led initiative seeking to address the real problem of hunger (food insecurity) on campus. It is our goal to help meet the needs of students who, for one reason or another, do not have access to enough healthy food.
We also encourage students to utilize the various resources in the Newberg and Yamhill County communities who are established to assist people when resources are depleted.
Additionally, George Fox University has many resources available to students to assure that they are given every opportunity to accomplish their academic goals.
The Bruin Community Pantry not only addresses food insecurity among students, we also work to connect students with resources that will encourage their own personal goals to graduate and procure a meaningful career.
Those wishing to contribute to BCP by donating money can go here, or contact Jere Witherspoon (jwithers@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2316) for more information.
We are an official member of the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA)
We are an official partner with Yamhill Community Action Partnership
Bruin Community Pantry Annual ReportApril 2019
Resources
Food Bank
All George Fox community members have access to the pantry, located in the Roberts Center’s Room 110.
Summer hours (April 29 through Sept. 2, 2019)
To make an appointment to access the food bank, please call the Office of Student Life at 503-554-2310.
SNAP ( Supplemental Nutrition Assistant Program)
- SNAP for College Students: An overview
- Do you need help applying for SNAP (food stamp) benefits?
- Contact the Student Life Office for assistance - 503-554-2310
Community Resources
Yamill Community Action Partnership
Community Wellness Collective of Yamhill County- Community meal sites
- Food banks
- Gardening, food and cooking classes
- Housing resources
- Transportation
- Medical care
Academic Resources
- Learning Support Services
- Textbook Assistance
- Academic Planning
- Disability Services
- Commuter Connections
- Spiritual Counseling
- Health and Counseling
- Student Clubs
- Student Support Network
- edquity - A resource for financial assistance outside of GFU
Food Donations
Donations of non-perishable items to the food bank can be delivered to the student life office in Stevens Center, or dropped off at the food bank during hours of operation.
Read about the top best non-perishable foods to donate here.
Hospitality Tables
A variety of pre-packaged foods are available for students, located at hospitality tables in the student life office, the spiritual life office, and the Intercultural Resource Center (Moore House). The tables are open during office hours, which are generally 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Student-athletes have organized a PB&J Bar (Hospitality Table) at the Duke Athletic Center.
'Leftovers' program
Around the world, close to a third of the world's food production is wasted each year, over 1.3 billion tons and nearly $990 billion dollars.
Many renowned chefs are working to address this disaster.
Italian chef Massimo Bottura is one of these pioneers.
Watch this documentary Food for the Soul.
The student life office has arranged for quality leftover food to be stored in a refrigerator on the third floor of the Stevens Center. All food donated will be adequately contained and dated. Community members interested in this program can email studentlife@georgefox.edu or call 503-554-2316.
Read about the Leftovers Program and complete the waiver form here.
Partnering with Nutrition Matters
The Nutrition Matters grant, funded by Bob’s Red Mill, has allowed George Fox to research topics as well as educate and involve students in healthy eating and nutrition. The grant has funded the Bod Pod that is used by both undergraduate and graduate students. The curriculum has been developed for the Lifelong Fitness course integrating healthy habits alongside fitness.
This grant also provided cooking equipment to the residential living areas to allow students to cook healthy meals in on-campus kitchens that have been graciously managed by Elizabeth Anderson the past two years.
Cooking Demonstrations
We look forward to sponsoring cooking demonstrations in the upcoming academic year.
Please look for these announcements in the Daily Bruin.
Learn to cook healthy food online:
Oregon State University's Food Hero website will get you started!
Q&A
What is food insecurity?
It is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially acceptable manner. The most extreme form is often accompanied by physiological sensations of hunger.
Why start a pantry program on the George Fox campus?
A recent study of the George Fox student body revealed the following:
- 19 percent of respondents indicated they were experiencing a temporary hardship that affected their ability to have enough to eat.
- 13 percent of those surveyed indicated that they did not have access to an adequate amount of food due to a lack of resources.
- 64 percent indicated that they had a friend who did not have access to an adequate amount of food.
Why would a student be food insecure at George Fox? Doesn't financial aid cover the cost of their food?
Complicating factors affect many students’ financial situation, whether they are on financial aid or not. Students may experience food insecurity due to a variety of financial circumstances and situations. Some students may be responsible for sending money home to care for family members.
Students may also have complicated family dynamics, which lead to the family withholding financial support. Additional factors could include major unexpected expenses, such as medical, transportation issues or housing problems.
Who can donate to the Bruin Community Pantry? What types of donations are accepted?
Throughout the year we will promote food drives to fill our food bank shelves. We will take donations of non-perishable food items and essential toiletries throughout the year. Periodically, we will have messages in the Daily Bruin.
Donations can be dropped off at the student life office on the third floor of the Stevens Center during regular business hours.
Those wishing to contribute to BCP by donating money can go here, or contact Jere Witherspoon (jwithers@georgefox.edu or 503-554-2316) for more information.
Is there a wish list of pantry items?
Yes. We will accept the following types of contributions:
- Boxed meals, such as mac and cheese and Hamburger Helper
- Rice
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Tortilla chips
- Pita chips
- Beef jerky
- Coffee
- Tea
- Hot sauces
- Canned veggies
- Canned fruits
- Canned beans
- Canned meats
- Chili
- Soups
- Salsa
- Marinara sauce
- Chicken and vegetable broth
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Crackers
- Cereal
- Cheese sticks
- Nuts
- Peanut butter, jelly, honey
- Applesauce pouches, fruit cups
- Protein bars, granola bars, fruit bars
- Dried fruit (cherries, figs, blueberries)
- Oil
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Body wash
- Tissues
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Laundry soap
- Dish soap
- Frozen vegetables
- Frozen meat
- Frozen fruit
In the News
Our efforts to provide resources for our students recently gained national attention. See this story in the May 2, 2019, issue of the New York Times to read more about the national hunger crisis on college campuses and what we and other schools are doing about it.
More Information
Jere Witherspoon, Office of Student Life: 503-554-2316 or jwitherspoon@georgefox.edu
Kristi Welker, Director of Commuter Life: 503-554-2308 or kwelker@georgefox.edu
