EMU Today

The food storage area of the pantry also includes refrigerators for items such as yogurt and milk, and the pantry offers household items as well.

YPSILANTI – Swoop's Food Pantry, which this past year had 1,220 visits and distributed more than 20,000 pounds of food at Eastern Michigan University, has moved into new, expanded quarters in Pierce Hall on the east side of campus.

The new quarters will allow growth and expansion to better serve students. The pantry now consists of two rooms, as well as a waiting room across the hall. The pantry was formerly housed in the Marshall Building,

"The new and larger location offers an opportunity to provide more options in a confidential space with easier access,” said Haley Moraniec, Swoop's Pantry graduate assistant and founder of the pantry. “Students who use the pantry appreciate knowing they have access to healthy food, which allows them to focus on what they are here to do – earn a degree."

Swoop's Student Food Pantry is a campus-based organization that is run by a leadership board consisting of EMU faculty, staff, students and alumni volunteers. Its mission is to provide EMU students in need with food assistance and additional resources to positively affect well-being and college success. Its goals are to:

• Create a sustainable resource for students to temporarily help meet food needs of students on campus.
• To meet emergency, non-food needs of students.
• Distribute food discreetly in easily accessible and safe environments on-campus.
• To provide students with resources to assist them in accessing services in the area.
• To involve community partners to assure the sustainability of the pantry.

With key support from Food Gatherers, Swoop’s was able to provide students with perishable food items, such as yogurt, milk and eggs; along with shelf-stable items, personal hygiene items and kitchen items such as can openers, dish soap, and more.

Swoop’s will be putting together Thanksgiving and holiday baskets again this year for students who are unable to afford holiday meals. If you are interested in contributing to these baskets, please contact the pantry by email at swoopspantry@emich.edu or by phone at (734) 487-4173. You can support Swoop’s Student Food Pantry at Eastern Michigan University by donating online or volunteering.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. More than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information, visit the University's website.