Sadly, one of the fastest growing trends found on college campuses today is hunger. John's Catholic Newman Center launched a food pantry exclusively serving the students of the University of Illinois and Parkland College. The Newman Shares Food Pantry has sought and received accreditation from the Eastern Illinois Food Bank, and is working in collaboration with other campus units, registered stude
nt organizations, and campus faith ministries to identify students in need, staff the volunteer positions, and support the new program through food drives and other activities. Although there are a number of food pantries in the Champaign-Urbana community, Newman Shares is the only one of its kind specifically serving needy college students. Community food banks are often underutilized by students, due in part to transportation concerns, operating hours, embarrassment, or misconceptions about eligibility. In contrast, the Newman Shares Food Pantry explicitly serves students, in a convenient location on campus, steps away from public transportation hubs, with hours most convenient to college students’ schedules. The Newman Shares Food Pantry conducts outreach on campus to identify students in crisis through partnerships and collaboration with campus staff, student organizations, and other campus faith-based ministries.
