By Sydnee McConnell and Moe Faloye
Staff Writers
Ivyside Eats is a food pantry that is available to all Penn State Altoona students who may be facing food insecurity. The pantry is located in the Edith Davis Eve Memorial Chapel but will be moving to the Smith building at a later date.
“The pantry started as an effort between student affairs and our campus ministers here.” Said Ginny Norris, the administrative assistant of diversity. The pantry helps students facing food insecurity, most commonly students who live on campus who have run out of money on their food plan and have no other way to eat.
To many students that struggle with food insecurity, the Ivyside pantry has been a significant help. As of the end of the last academic school year in May 2023, the pantry has helped over 300 students and has also served over 700 meals to Penn State Altoona students in under one year from August 2022- May 2023 according to Norris. There is a wide range of products available at the food pantry, such as food, clothing, toiletries, baby food, and pampers.
If a student would like to use the pantry, the student is supposed to bring their Penn State student ID card to either Sue Patterson, the director of diversity, or Ginny Norris. Students also have the option to order online from the Ivyside Eats website. Once a student orders what they need from the website, the order is put together, then the student can pick it up from Norris’ office.
Even though the antry has been here for years and has helped hundreds of students, many are unaware that there is a pantry available to them. After asking if she had ever heard of the pantry, first-year student Lyric Kier said, “No, I haven’t been to the student pantry and I have no experience with it.”
But there are also many other students who have heard of the pantry and how it has helped many students. “The pantry seems to be such a great resource for students who need food or other resources,” fourth-year student Elise Brooks said. “I’ve had friends that have helped raise donations for the pantry and they all have said it was a great experience and that the pantry is so helpful to students in need.”
Ivyside Eats is always open for donations from students, faculty, staff as well as people from the local Altoona community if you email Sue Patterson or Ginny Norris. Food, clothing, and toiletries are accepted for donations. To use the pantry, email Patterson or Norris to schedule an appointment or order online.