ASI Food Bank Receives Nearly $100K in New Funding to Feed Students

By Jennifer K. Morita

September 6, 2024

Each week, about 500 Sacramento State students shop for free groceries—including fresh produce, non-perishable items and basic toiletries—at Associated Students Inc. (ASI) food banks.

Fueled by inflation and rising housing costs in the Sacramento region, those numbers continue to rise. But nearly $100,000 in new funding helps the pantry meet that need and better serve food- and housing-insecure Sac State students, as well as local elementary school children.

Over the past year, the pantry has received 10 grants totaling $97,000. The money will help cover rising food costs as well as pay for much-needed upgrades like energy-efficient refrigerators, new inventory software and an electric food delivery van.

“There’s a huge need,” said Food Pantry Manager Sommer Hayes. “There’s a huge problem with food insecurity among college students. Thankfully, the world is shining a light on it.”

The grants will help meet a range of critical needs. The largest amount – $28,000 from the California Department of Food and Agriculture – was used to purchase new glass-door refrigerators.

“Students will be able to view content without having to open doors as often, which will help save energy and reduce costs,” Hayes said.

The $10,000 grant will be used to update the pantry’s software to manage inventory and collect more information about student shopping preferences.

“Right now, our process is very manual,” Hayes said. “But my top priority is being able to see what students are and aren’t taking from the Food Pantry.”

Pantry coordinator Ryan Choi added that the new system will notify him when supplies are running low and will also help him analyze trends in how often and when students use the pantry.

“I want them to know that there’s an entire university here that cares about them, so not only are we helping Sac State students, but we’re also able to give back and help our partners off campus.” Sommer Hayes, Food Pantry Manager

Other donations helped fund the purchase of a new electric van that will allow staff and volunteers to collect larger volumes of food while making fewer trips.

“It’s all electric, so we don’t have to worry about gas,” Hayes said. “It was on our wish list and we’re very grateful to our donors for their support.

The influx of funds comes at a crucial time for the Food Pantry. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of students using its services increased by 30%, Choi said. And that number is still growing.

“We saw an increase as soon as the tuition increases were announced, and as egg prices went up, we also saw an increase in people asking for eggs because they could no longer buy them for $2 or $3 at Trader Joe’s,” Choi said.

“The fundraising has been incredibly helpful.”

In addition to groceries, the pantry also offers free toiletries, including organic menstrual products funded by a grant from University Enterprises, Inc.

While it continues to serve more students, the Food Pantry’s out-of-pocket costs have increased. Between fiscal years 2022-23 and 2023-24, spending on food and supplies increased by $15,000 to $20,000 due to a 20% increase in student shopping visits, Choi said.

The pantry also purchased more non-perishable items in bulk to take advantage of deep discounts on grocery items students requested, such as rice, pasta, non-perishable milk, canned tuna, peanut butter, dry beans, and vegetable oil.

The new, 400-square-foot space secured by the Office of the President can hold 25,000 pounds of food, a two-month supply for 400 to 500 students. The old space could only hold a two-week supply, Choi said.

To help offset some of the food costs, the Food Pantry has partnered with Sac State Sustainability. Food pantry staff and volunteers are now helping out at Capitol Public Radio’s garden, lending their labor to increase the amount of free, fresh produce the garden is able to provide to the pantry.

And when they had leftover sweet potatoes from the Sacramento Food Bank in their pantry, instead of letting them go to waste, they sprouted them and planted them in their garden.

Choi said the partnership brings benefits beyond the costs.

“For the first time in our history, the people who greet students and talk to them about produce are the same people who planted and harvested the fruits and vegetables,” he said. “It gave our team a deeper appreciation for Mother Nature and how difficult it is to grow food.”

The new funding isn’t just for campus. With the help of a $5,000 grant from Anchor University, Hayes was able to start the Empower Her program to reach girls in local elementary schools. The program will work with student health workers from The WELL with fifth- and sixth-grade girls in the Leaders of Tomorrow after-school program at John Sloat Elementary School to teach them about their menstrual cycles and body positivity, and also provide free period underwear.

“I want them to know that there’s an entire university here that cares about them, so not only are we helping Sac State students, but we’re also able to give back and help our partners off campus,” Hayes said.

Hayes expressed gratitude to all who donated to support the Food Bank’s work on behalf of students.

“We just want to connect with people who have the time and financial resources to share with the Food Bank to help keep us healthy.”