On Wednesday, Oct. 16, University of Connecticut Dining Services held their first outdoor pop-up food pantry, Husky Harvest, for “anyone with a UConn ID.” The event was set up on the Student Union Lawn, starting at 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., or until supplies ran out. For participants to enter, they had to share a way to be contacted by Husky Harvest and show their UConn ID.
Students were able to stop at a variety of tables with food options in similar categories. For example, the first table in the queue had several electrolyte drinks, capped at three items per participant. This year, more shelf-stable food items were offered such as cereal, peanut butter, grape jelly, ramen, cookies, goldfish and fruit cups. The last table featured hygiene items including toilet paper, facial tissues, razers, toothpaste and soap.
Senior associate director of UConn Dining Services, Tracey Roy, provided an in-person interview as the event began. Roy shared that they have been working on this project for the past month.
“We have been working on a lot of logistics including finding places to store all donated food, working with partners to pick up foods, since many partners cannot deliver, and coordinating with the Student Union to find a date that worked for everyone,” according to Roy.
When asked if there were any major changes from previous years, Roy focused on the change of location. “This is our third pop-up, but first time outside. The last two were inside and not as many students came. We are much happier with being outside and where students can easily find the pop-up food pantry.”
Many students who utilized the pop-up pantry shared they only discovered it because of its location. Both Syrai Parker, a first-semester material science and engineering major, and Naia Ocio, a first-semester undecided major, shared they were leaving class and stopped to see what the line was for.
“I had never heard of Husky Harvest. I think it is a great event, and people can take advantage in a positive way. Not everyone can go grocery shopping every week to look for food or things you need like soap and tissues,” shared Parker.
“As freshmen, everything is really far and if it is on campus, it is expensive,” said Ocio. “This is a great way to get some food without having to go far off-campus.”
In addition, upperclassmen found the change in location made the event more approachable. Amira Veldman-Wilson, a fifth-semester chemistry major, said, “I heard about this event last year, but I never went through the Student Union to go see the ballroom. I walk past the Student Union Lawn every day, so seeing it outside was a lot more accessible than upstairs and inside.”
Similarly, Audrey Hom, a fifth-semester psychology major, shared that for students who do not have kitchens and live in traditional dorms, the timing of this event during midterms week was really well thought out.
As an attendee at the pop-up pantry last year, Livian Shi, a fifth-semester psychology major, felt that the variety of food was greatly improved upon. “I felt that they took feedback from last year. Most of us do not have kitchens and cannot grab food that requires a kitchen. This year, there’s more variety in terms of snacks or things that don’t need to be cooked.”
For those unfamiliar, Husky Harvest works in partnership with Connecticut Foodshare. Their mission statement, according to their website is “to address food insecurity across UConn. The food pantries are accessible to anyone with a UConn ID and provide the campus community with non-perishable food items, toiletries and more.”
Despite this being a one-time event, anyone with a UConn ID can still visit Husky Harvest located in the community center of Charter Oak Apartments. They are open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.