Western Kentucky University
IN-25: Innovation B

The WKU Food Pantry, located at the Office of Sustainability since 2014, provides food assistance to students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity. In 2016, the food pantry was visited 244 times. The Pantry is well-supported by both the campus and greater community. Community partners include the Community Farmers Market, where vendors donate unsold product at the end of market days and the Country Oven Bakery, where a company green team coordinates regular food drives among employees. Additionally, the Project Grow Community Garden, located at the Office of Sustainability, provides fresh vegetables for the Pantry. The Project Grow Fellows grow food for the Pantry, and friends that "rent" plots also have the option of donating some of their bounty to the Pantry. A partnership with the WKU Student Dietetics Association has resulted in creative awareness activities for the Pantry, such as demonstrations of how to use Food Pantry staples (the most often donated items are beans and corn) to make a nutritionally balanced meal. In 2016/2017 WKU marketing students are developing publicity program packages for the Pantry as their senior projects. These packages will include branding (such as a WKU Food Pantry logo) and other elements that will help raise awareness about the Pantry.