Amid concerns about how the economy is going to affect students at the University of Rhode Island, Rhody Outpost feels prepared to help.
The Outpost, a food pantry for students who struggle with food insecurity, was established in 2015.
“[The Rhody Outpost is] important because first of all, food is a basic need, food is a human right,” Barbara Sweeney, coordinator of food security outreach, said. “We know that about 25% of our students are food insecure.”
With the rising grocery, dining hall and tuition prices, Sweeney wants students to know that, if they are struggling, that the Rhody Outpost is here to help. She feels it is important that food is not a barrier to student success.
As warmer months inch closer, the Outpost will have a bit more spending money regardless of the economy, according to Sweeney.
The Outpost provides a variety of fresh food for students, specifically milk, bread, yogurt, eggs and fresh produce. When produce starts to grow, 90% of fresh produce needs will be met by on-campus farms, which will reserve more money for other food groups, Sweeney said.
The Outpost is prepared if funding decreases, according to Sweeney. If needed, Sweeney will buy certain products, like eggs, less often.
The Outpost is funded by a number of means; they are run by Dining Services and have a funding account, donated gift cards, an Amazon wishlist, donations of food and large donation drives throughout the year, according to Sweeney.
The Outpost serves a wide variety of people, with the most common groups being international graduate students, queer students and those whose families are struggling financially. The federal food stamp program, SNAP, does not serve international students. International graduate students often come with their families, and their stipend is not often enough to support everyone.
There are also a large number of queer students whose families were unaccepting, and forced to provide for themselves, according to Sweeney.
Nara Wisea, a graduate student who uses the Outpost, feels it helps with their families food budget.
“Having access to Rhody Outpost is crucial for us since living on a grad student stipend with a family of four is really tough, and being an international student also limits my ability to get extra income,” said Wisea.
Evelyn Mensah, another graduate student in her second year who uses the Outpost, feels it is crucial for making sure students don’t have to choose between their education and meals.
“For many students, it serves as more than just a food source; it is a source of support,” Mensah said. “With the current economic challenges, I do worry about how it might affect the pantry’s ability to serve every student in need.”
Sweeney has worked to ensure there are many locations where students are able to get access to food, including an area in the commuter lounge in the Memorial Union for students to get a quick bite, the dining services warehouse and a recent addition was a mini pantry in the nursing education center.
The Women’s Center has a 24/7 access secure box with non-perishable and sanitary products, according to Sweeney. Meaningful Monday on Grubhub is another option, where students can donate $5 of their dining dollars to a student’s account who receives aid from Rhody Outpost, according to Sweeney.
Sweeney also wants the Outpost to be a source of community for students. The central Outpost location at the dining services warehouse has seating and pastries for students to sit and socialize.
Sweeney tries to make the process to sign up for Rhody Outpost services to be easy. The enrolling student would meet with Sweeney and fill out a form. She also encourages students to seek out other means besides the Outpost.
If a student is looking to help out, they can use dining dollars to buy food and bring it to room 302 in the Memorial Union, visit their Amazon Wishlist, use the Meaningful Monday feature or donate at a number of food drives at athletic or church events during the year.
The Outpost is open from 3-5 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays at the Dining Services Warehouse on 10 Tootell Road.