StockUP, the on-campus food pantry that has been on pause for the past academic year, is returning to UP starting in the fall of 2024. Originally housed under Diversity & Inclusion Programs (DIP) operations, it has now moved under the control of the Wellness Center and Care Team.
Director of Student Wellness Greg Peterson explains that the fundamentals of StockUP as a program generally falls more under his group’s jurisdiction.
“We [student affairs committee] had a conversation around the future of StockUP and saw it more as a purview of our Care Team,” Peterson said. “The Care Team… [is] a case management service that serves students in the community that have concerns and needs to help be successful on campus.”
With this new change in program management comes changes in the program itself. Previously, the program had been a pop-up event located on Willamette Blvd. Now, it will expand into a program that includes using a designated space in Oricco Hall to house all the food, hygiene and other basic needs that are open to UP community members.
The new system for the program is structured around students’ timely needs rather than being open only once a month. The team is currently working to have students sign up for specific times to visit the pantry along with open hours for unrestricted visits.
StockUP will begin its restructuring over the summer, and the first step is to revitalize the designated area in Oricco Hall.
“There’s going to be a capital project that’s going to be completed this summer to revamp our storage area and have much more room for food storage,” Peterson said.
Peterson shared that there also might be potential for student-employment with StockUP. These students would have tasks such as stocking up the shelves, being present during open hours or scheduled visits and maintaining cleanliness in the area.
In terms of getting the word out about StockUP, Peterson and his team are working to ensure that all students are aware of their presence on campus.
“We will be advertising it on Wellness Wednesdays over the coming academic year,” Peterson said. “It will be promoted via our wellness promotion channels, such as our Instagram accounts.”
Since StockUP will also fall under the management of the Care Team, students who are referred to them may also be encouraged to utilize this program. Confidential resources on campus also may refer students on a need-based basis.
First years will also be notified of StockUP during their orientation weekend, including education on Care Team services to get the word out to new students on campus.
Overall, Peterson is excited for this new change and for getting to work much closer with this new StockUP.
“It’s [StockUP] a part of the Care Team’s mission, which is really to address any needs that a student has, whether those are basic, emotional, physical, academic or other barriers that prevent them from having a successful academic career,” Peterson said.
Molly Bancroft is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at bancroft26@up.edu.
