Izzy’s Food Pantry Provides Essential Food Items to Islander Students
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – While the COVID-19 virus has changed the delivery of a university education around the world and halted many student activities, Islander students continue to adjust to this new way of life and take steps to “flatten the curve.” To ease the burden of food insecurity amidst supply shortages, whether real or perceived, Izzy’s Food Pantry at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi organized an event to provide grocery bags of food and essential items to more than 100 students in need.
“The health, safety, and success of our students remains our number one priority,” said Dr. Kelly M. Miller, President and CEO of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. “Islander students are incredibly hard working, with most taking classes and holding down a job or two at the same time. Unfortunately, many of them work in industries that have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, making them unable to work at this time. We are working to make certain they have the resources they need, including food, to continue to reach their long term academic and professional goals.”
Islanders who attended the April 2 event received bags of 12 food items and other essentials. These pre-packaged bags included proteins, meals in a can, canned vegetables, fruits, and soups. The bags were packed earlier in the week by students and staff in the Division of Student Engagement and Success (SEAS), following social distancing rules and sanitary measures to minimize the amount of people handling the food items.
“An event like this is really important because so many of us can’t make it to the grocery store right now,” said April Boisley, SEAS student worker and sophomore psychology major. “With the stay at home order in effect, many of us can’t see our friends who usually help take us to the groceries stores to shop, so having something like this on campus that we can just walk to really helps get us through.”
Students attending the giveaway followed the recommended social distancing guidelines, lining up six feet apart from one another, thanks to yellow tape marking the ground. Workers at the event were also given masks and gloves.
“The Coronavirus has changed so much for us this semester,” said Micaela Hernandez, SEAS student worker and junior health sciences major. “A lot has changed with us moving from face-to-face to all of our classes online, and I think it’s important to have events like this because it’s important to know that as a student you always have your community and your university here to support you.”
This recent giveaway is a small part of the overall Islander student support network. Community sponsors of Izzy’s Food Bank, including H-E-B, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation, Whataburger, and the Coastal Bend Food Bank have continuously lent helping hands through generous donations of food and supplies throughout the fall and spring semesters. Additional new support from H-E-B and the Coastal Bend Food Bank during the city/county Stay-at-Home order has allowed for the ongoing operations of Izzy’s Food Pantry, including weekly food distributions.
For more information on Izzy’s Food Pantry and events similar to this one, visit foodpantry.tamucc.edu. For more information on how Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is responding to COVID-19, visit tamucc.edu.
