COBBER FOOD PANTRY ANNUAL REPORT 2021-22
NEW STRATEGIES IN 2021-22
2021-22 AT A GLANCE
Meal Kits and Snack Shelf: In June 2021, a snack shelf was installed, providing students with a quick snack option. Meal kits were assembled and distributed in July. Each kit included a variety of ingredients including items for pasta dishes, vegetable sides, and chocolate cake.
12,268 lb of food distributed to students 300 volunteer hours
Winter Break Meal Distribution: Great Plains Food Bank and Pontoppidan Lutheran Church partnered with the food pantry to provide 25 food boxes to Concordia students who were staying over the winter break. Food Rescue Initiatives: Great Plains Food Bank provided the pantry with food rescue items that would otherwise be wasted. These items included fresh produce, meat, bread, and deli items. The items were gathered from local grocery stores. Volunteer Expansion: This year alone, the pantry had 35 volunteers, both students and staff. Volunteering is essential to the function of the pantry, from stocking, unloading boxes, and staffing it during open hours. Joan Kopperud, professor emerita of English, regularly volunteered and is an important part of the infrastructure of the pantry. Kopperud has helped write grants, represents Concordia on the Cass Clay Food Commission, and helps with educational efforts linking the food pantry to faculty partners/projects. Kitchen Supplies Pop-Up Event: Lack of access to kitchen supplies can be a barrier for food insecure students. In collaboration with the Sustainability and Global Learning offices, the Cobber Food Pantry hosted an event to get kitchen items into the hands of students who needed them. Student Staff With the financial support received, the pantry was able to employ its first student staff member. Chelsea Masikati ’23 worked regular hours throughout the summer and school year, enabling the pantry to reach more students and enhance the overall services.
PANTRY VISITORS
220
1,167
students served
visits by those students
(172 served in 2020-21)
(779 visits in 2020-21)
DONATIONS 2,323 lb
food donated from campus/community members/food drives
11,171 lb
Race Demographics 21% Domestic Students of Color
$15,500
food received from Great Plains Food Bank including food rescue
53% 37% International White Students
42% White Students
Gender Identity 37% of all food pantry users self-identify as LGBTQIA+
financial contributions
Year in School 16% Fourth Year 20% Third Year
24% First Year
40% Second Year
Socioeconomic Status 70% of all food pantry users self-identify with at least one measure of low socioeconomic status