Food Market Reopens at Wilbur Wright College

By: Reanna Sturgill

Wilbur Wright College has reopened its Healthy Food Market for students. It is open Thursday, Mar.13, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, Mar. 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is housed in the science building past the faculty dining area in room S141 through S143 double doors. 

The coordinator of the food pantry, Dean of Student Services Romell Murden-Waldu, said, “It came back because I recognize the need for this service for our students. I tried to do what I could do to make it work. We had to rethink, reboot, and see how best you can serve with limited resources.” 

Students are now required to show their ID at the food pantry. Waldu said “When the pantry is normally open, sometimes we have community residents as well, but I just don’t have enough products to serve the community. Just serving our students was enough.”

On Feb. 24, when the food pantry was open, there were an estimated 15 students. Two students, in addition to Waldu, volunteered, the pantry had rice, canned soup, cereal, COVID tests, etc. They did not have produce or dairy options.

The food pantry was temporarily shut down due to a lack of staffing. Two out of the three students who worked with Waldu graduated in the Fall. Two other community volunteers retired in the winter after working with her for two years. 

“The food pantry is a whole other operation that requires a lot of time, dedication, and staffing. We don’t have the support to run the operation.” Waldu voiced that the closure left a heavy impact on her after hearing students “cry for help.”

Waldu said, “I had a lot of students in different areas, different departments inquiring about it. Students are voicing their opinions like ‘Please, bring it back. Can you do something?’”

Waldu added “I do like serving students and I see the need. And it’s so sad to know that I had students that say, ‘I didn’t know if I was going to eat tomorrow. Can I just get something to eat right away? So I can go to class.’ I hear it all the time.”

Since Dec. 15, the pantry closed its door; they handed out a flyer, providing five food pantries near Wright College. Students advocated reopening the pantry back to campus. Murden said, “They feel more welcomed and supported here.” Wright needs a pantry, and the “data speaks for itself.” 

Additional food pantry resources for students and community members.

Waldu said that when they were open twice a week, “Each day can range from 75 to 80 [people] a day. Anywhere between 150 to 160 per week.” Waldu added “During our holiday distribution times, which is November [and] December, we average 100 per day, which is about 200 [people] per week. Our volume is high.”

The food pantry welcomes regular volunteers and can do so by reaching out to Waldu. “Volunteers that come one time and never return is no benefit to us. Volunteers that serve an hour and we’re open for four hours is no benefit to us.” 

Waldu added “If they’re committed to working at least one day, which is four hours, that would be great for us. It’s open, if they have that time, and that commitment, that passion to serve and dependable, then great.”