StockUP, a food pantry aimed at students, faculty and staff who may struggle with food insecurity, is back and in a new location. The first StockUP of the academic year will take place on Monday Oct. 10 from 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. at 5516 N Willamette Boulevard.
Participants can expect to find a wide range of items from fresh produce, canned goods and hygiene products.
Starting in early 2021, StockUP has become a recurring on-campus event that aims at providing a space for UP community members to freely take what they need. While the event is open to all members of the University, StockUP’s primary focus is providing free food and hygiene supplies to those who struggle to make ends meet.
“If we think about food insecurity, it's not necessarily that you have an empty grocery shelf, but that you have an abundance of food around you but you're not able to afford it,” Carolina Cortes, administrative assistant for International Education, Diversity and Inclusion, said.
“The pandemic is still going on,” Cortes said. “Pay inequity is still affecting UP directly. This is a space where you can go and get free groceries without stigma.”
Eddie Contreras, Assistant Provost for International Education, Diversity and Inclusion, wants StockUP to be a place that reduces the stigma around food insecurity on campus.
“People are very shy often, and we encourage them to take whatever they want,” Contreras said.
In the future, DIP hopes to use the expanded Diversity Center as a permanent place to hold non-perishable items. According to Contreras, community members will be able to access the items on a rolling basis.
DIP invites volunteers to sign up for any pop-up events. Students interested in helping out at StockUP can contact dip@up.edu for more information.
Carlos Moreno-Vega is a reporter for The Beacon. He can be reached at morenove23@up.edu
