Mo West Campus Cupboard Gets Grant Money For Student Manager

College students dealing with hunger at one area university got a hand up on Thursday with the announcement of a $3,000 microgrant to help their on-campus food pantry.

The Campus Cupboard on the campus of Missouri Western State University announced Thursday they are one of 17 national recipients of a $3,000 microgrant from Swipe Out Hunger, a national nonprofit committed to ending college student hunger. The grant will allow the Campus Cupboard to hire a student manager.

In a release Dr. Brett Bruner, assistant vice president of student affairs and dean of students said “Hiring a student manager will allow the Campus Cupboard to offer expanded hours, including evenings and weekends. It will also allow us to develop new marketing initiatives, establish a more consistent volunteer program and more.”

The Campus Cupboard was established in 2015 and is located in the Blum Student Union, room 214. It is currently open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Cupboard is supplied with nonperishable and perishable food items along with some personal care products. This is the result of campus food drives and donations from individuals, business partners and student and community organizations.

Currently, the Campus Cupboard and the Bearcat Food Pantry at Northwest Missouri State University are the beneficiaries of Scratching Out Hunger, a friendly competition between the student government organizations at the two schools. The student groups are collecting food and monetary donations for their respective food pantry, with the winner to be announced at the Griffon-Bearcat basketball games Saturday.

*phot0 provided by Missouri Western