By Jennifer K. Morita

September 06, 2024

Every week, roughly 500 Sacramento State students shop for free groceries – including fresh produce, non-perishable staples and basic toiletries – from the Associated Students Inc. (ASI) Food Pantry.

Driven by inflation and the rising cost of housing in the Sacramento region, those numbers continue to rise. But nearly $100,000 in new funding is helping the pantry meet that need and better serve food and housing insecure students at Sac State as well as local elementary school kids.

Over the past year, the pantry has received 10 grants totaling $97,000. That money will help cover the rising cost of food as well as pay for much-needed upgrades, such as energy-saving refrigeration, new inventory software and an electric van to transport food.

“There’s a big need,” said Food Pantry Manager Sommer Hayes. “There’s a huge food insecurity issue among students. Thankfully, the world is shining a light on it.”

The grants will assist with a variety of critical needs. The largest – $28,000 from the California Department of Food and Agriculture – was used to purchase new glass door refrigerators.

“Students will have the ability to view contents without opening the doors frequently, which will help conserve energy and reduce costs,” Hayes said.

A $10,000 grant will be used to update the pantry’s software for managing inventory and capture more information about students’ shopping preferences.

“Right now, our process is very manual,” Hayes said. “But my highest priority is being able to see what students are taking from the Food Pantry and what they’re not taking.”

Food Pantry Coordinator Ryan Choi added that the new system will alert him when supplies are low as well as help him analyze trends in how often and when students visit the pantry.

“I want to let them know there’s a whole university here that cares about them, so we’re not only helping Sac State students but we’re able to give back and help our off-campus partners as well.” Sommer Hayes, Food Pantry manager

Other donations have helped fund the purchase of a new electric van that will allow staff and volunteers to pick up larger amounts of food using fewer trips.

“It’s totally electric, so we don't have to worry about gas,” Hayes said. “It was on our wish list, and we’re very grateful to our donors for contributing.

The infusion of funds comes at a crucial time for the Food Pantry. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of students utilizing its services jumped 30%, Choi said. And the numbers keep rising.

“We saw an uptick as soon as the tuition increases were announced, and when egg prices shot up, we also saw a spike in the number of folks reaching out asking for eggs because they could no longer get eggs for $2 or $3 at Trader Joe’s,” Choi said.

“Fundraising has been immensely helpful.”

In addition to food items, the pantry also provides free toiletries, including sustainable menstrual products funded by a grant from University Enterprises, Inc.

While it continues to serve more students, the Food Pantry’s own costs have increased. Between fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24, food and inventory spending went up between $15,000 and $20,000 due to a 20% rise in student shopping visits, Choi said.

The pantry also purchased more non-perishable items in bulk to take advantage of heavy discounts on food items students ask for, such as rice, pasta, shelf-stable milk, canned tuna, peanut butter, dry beans and vegetable oil.

A new, 400 square-foot space secured by the President’s Office can hold 25,000 pounds of food, a two-month supply for 400-500 students. The old space could only hold two weeks’ worth of food, Choi said.

To help offset some of the food costs, the Food Pantry has teamed up with Sac State Sustainability. Pantry staff and volunteers now help in the Capitol Public Radio garden, lending their labor to increase the amount of free, fresh produce the garden is able to provide the pantry.

And when the pantry had leftover sweet potatoes from the Sacramento Food Bank, instead of letting it go to waste, they sprouted and planted them in the garden.

The partnership has benefits beyond costs, Choi said.

“For the first time in our history, the folks who are greeting students and talking to them about the produce are the same people who planted and harvested the fruits and vegetables,” he said. “It’s given our team a deeper gratitude for Mother Nature and how hard it is to grow food.”

The new funding isn’t just making an impact on campus. Thanks to a $5,000 Anchor University grant, Hayes was able to start the Empower Her program to reach out to local elementary school girls. The program will partner student health workers from The WELL with fifth- and sixth-grade girls in John Sloat Elementary School’s Leaders of Tomorrow after-school program to teach them about the menstrual cycle and body positivity as well as provide free period underwear.

“I want to let them know there’s a whole university here that cares about them, so we’re not only helping Sac State students but we’re able to give back and help our off-campus partners as well,” Hayes said.

Hayes expressed gratitude to those who have donated to support the Food Pantry’s work to support students.

“We’re just looking to connect with people who have time and the monetary funds to share with the Food Pantry that will help keep us going strong.”