for First Time in a Decade

As a member of Feeding America, the group provides Campus Cupboard with some of its food items. The letter provided a warning of what was to come. Rutt said she knew they were going to experience a 43% cut from what they normally received.

Rutt added, protein is the hardest to get and there were no soups to choose from and she’s barely been able to get cereal since Nov. 2022. She has not been able to get rice or pasta.

Campus Cupboard student worker, Maggie Rankin, said she is also concerned about the decline in food items.

“The amount of food that we’ve gotten in now has drastically declined since whenever I first started,” Rankin said.

“It has definitely impacted us. We have our usuals that depend on this food.”

Rutt said she purchases food from Harvesters, while ALDI and Walmart donate food to Campus Cupboard. She added that student organizations conduct food drives for Campus Cupboard often and she will meet with some of the local grocery stores and purchase food from them directly. Rutt said some UCM staff members have been pitching in.

“When they [UCM staff members] go and do their shopping, they’ll buy an extra roll of paper towels and they’ll buy two or three cans of soup extra,” Rutt said. “They accumulate so much and then they bring it by and donate it. We have some individuals who are very generous in that way.” see CUPBOARD page 2