As students and staff settle into the hustle and bustle of a new school year, the Mobile Food Pantry at CSU is a valuable program for students and staff that provides necessary resources to those facing food insecurity. For a well-balanced start to the fall semester, the Mobile Food Pantry will take place Sept. 6 from 4-6 p.m. on University Avenue directly north of the Hartshorn Building.

As a part of the Rams Against Hunger program, the pantry aims to connect students as well as staff members, with nutritious and affordable food. The partnership with Food Bank for Larimer County began in the Spring of 2017 now takes place once per month.

“With the start of the school year, many students are returning to class full-time or coming to school for the first time, and this can have financial implications on their lives,” said Lauren Rhoades, the program’s director for the food bank for Larimer County. “This program can help bridge a gap for students and staff that may find it difficult to fully meet their nutritional needs on their own budgets.”

The on-campus location also provides a convenient setting for people looking to make the most of their time and resources.

“This reduces the need to travel for food and helps those that visit the pantry stretch the rest of their food budget for the month further,” said Rhoades.

This year, 2,264 unique visitors attended the pantry, with over half returning at a later date to utilize the program. While the pantry served approximately 7.3 percent of CSU students, the event also served 1.3 percent of CSU employees. To attend, bring your CSU ID and bags to fill with a selection of fruits, vegetables, baked goods and others food items.

The Mobile Food Pantry program is always looking for volunteers, and any CSU student, faculty or staff member can sign up by filling out the RamLink form at ramlink.campuslabs.com/engage/forms.