On Friday, February 19, 2016, Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) opened the only food pantry in South Bend on a college campus, Titan Feeding Titans.

Anne Drake, IUSB disabilities specialist, had the idea about two and half years ago when she "encountered students who were in need of food."

Drake started working on it about a year and a half ago with her SWK-S 251 History and Analysis of Social Welfare Policy class. Her class "researched and found that food insecurity in St. Joseph County, where most of our students live, is higher than the Indiana state average."

The workers at the food pantry stated that another goal they have is to wipe away the stigma of using a food pantry. I can say for myself there is not stigma. If you need help, you need help. Sometimes there are things you cannot account for in life, such as an emergency medical bill not covered by insurance, a death in the family, or some other major occurrence. I myself, have used a pantry to help me get along while I support myself through college, and I honestly end eating a lot better and lot healthier when I have a food pantry to visit versus when I don't.

This is what I got on my second trip to the pantry on Monday. Doing a quick estimation, I had over $20 worth in name brand food right there on that haul alone! There is no need to feel ashamed of needing help or going to a food pantry, in fact it's fairly simple and painless.
The pantry is located in SAC room 114 by the street entrance to the Student Activities Center (this spot was actually chosen in case someone does not want to other to know they use a food pantry).

Once you let the helpers know you are there for food pantry, they will give you the slip above to fill out. You do not have to fill out the slip, however the slips help Drake and the rest of the pantry staff fill out grants in order to keep the pantry up and running.

Then, you can go in and get the food that you need in order to keep going until your next paycheck or until you can get back on your feet. At the end, the worker will help you fill out an inventory sheet of everything taken so that they know what to restock and what is moving quickly through the pantry.

Eventually, Drake wants the pantry to be able to hold meat products and animal food products for students on campus with Emotional Support Animals to take care of, but they currently do not have enough room to do such. However, they do offer hygiene products and baby products for students who are parents and need help.

If you want to help support the pantry, they are accepting hygiene products and monetary and non-perishable food stuffs.

The pantry is located in room 114 in the SAC. They are open Mondays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you have questions, would like to donate, or need to get into the pantry on a day it is not open, you can contact Anne Drake at (574) 520-4256 or at anmdrake@iusb.edu