StockUP, the University of Portland’s food pantry, has permanently reopened this fall semester after a temporary pause due to restructuring. The pantry now operates from a new location in the lower level of Orrico Hall, offering students non-perishable items such as bread and pasta.
The food pantry is now open Mondays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Students are asked to bring their own standard grocery-sized bag and are limited to one bag per visit. Anyone unable to visit the food pantry at these times can also schedule appointments outside of normal operating hours by emailing the StockUP email at stockup@up.edu.
“I hope that if [the working hours] don’t work with somebody's schedule, they'll reach out and know that we're not scary, that we just want them to have what they need,” Erin Currie, interim director of student wellness, said.
For Currie, StockUP’s resurgence is essential to make groceries more accessible to students in the face of rising food costs.
“Life is really expensive right now… so I think [StockUP] is crucial because this is a basic need, and so making sure that the folks who come to UP are supported in the ways that they need,” Currie said.
Previously, StockUP operated as an on-campus pop-up under the Diversity and Inclusion Programs (DIP), available to the UP community and surrounding neighborhoods. But, in spring of 2024, management of the program was transitioned to the Care Team, UP’s referral program for students who may be struggling with their physical, emotional, academic or personal health.
The Care Team has also instituted a series of new updates to the program, including a set location in Orrico, a dedicated student worker available to assist visitors and limiting the program to students only.
“[The student worker] will be here for the walk in hours, like checking people in, making sure people are oriented to the pantry and able to get in there and get the food that they need,” Care Team Coordinator Grace Dale said.
Overall, Director of Student Activities Jeromy Koffler says that these updates to StockUP will make the program more accessible for students.
“Students had to pay attention to the advertisements, they had to know exactly where to go, they had to not have class at that time,” Koffler said, “There were a lot of disadvantages, I think, to the old model.”
On Sept. 23, StockUP will be hosting an open house to celebrate the commencement of the program. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the lower level of Orrico Hall. Coffee and snacks will be provided as well as a raffle students can enter.
“It shouldn't have to be a question of where [students] are gonna get their food from…” Dale said, “People shouldn't have to be thinking too hard about where they're going to get their basic needs from when they're trying to focus on school and their personal life.”
The Care Team invites students who may be struggling with food insecurity or related issues to reach out for support via email at stockup@up.edu.
Tiffany Marquez Escobar is a reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at marqueze25@up.edu
