OHIO community bands together to support Baker Food Pantry
鈥淏obcats help Bobcats.鈥 It鈥檚 a phrase that can often be heard at 91探花 as members of the community, in ways big and small, come together to support one another.
In recent months, that phrase has evolved into a program dubbed Bobcats Helping Bobcats. Part of the Division of Student Affairs, the program provides a means for students, staff and faculty to support students on the Athens campus who are experiencing emergencies that may impact their overall well-being and thwart their path toward an OHIO degree.
This fall, Bobcats Helping Bobcats piloted a meal bank program, allowing students to donate up to three meals to fellow Bobcats in need. In the coming months, Bobcats Helping Bobcats plans on launching a microgrant emergency fund, allowing students to apply for one-time funding to mitigate an emergency, such as a car repair, that could derail their academic pursuits.
But the program鈥檚 most established and successful initiative to date is the Baker University Center Food Pantry that provides donated food and personal care items to both students and community members in need.
Shawnlee Harrington鈥檚 car was filled to the brim with food donations on her way to Athens.
鈥淔ood insecurity is a reality for students here at 91探花, as well as across the nation,鈥 said Kathy Fahl, OHIO鈥檚 new assistant dean of students who is spearheading the Division of Student Affairs鈥 efforts to support students鈥 basic needs. 鈥淲hen students don鈥檛 have enough to eat, they are more likely to miss class, drop out of school, have a harder time paying attention, and experience other challenges, including mental health issues.鈥
Fahl said one of her goals is to increase the usage and availability of the Baker University Center Food Pantry. The pantry鈥檚 success is dependent on donations from the OHIO community, including Bobcat parents and alumni who recently stepped up to make a significant donation to the effort.
Shawnlee Harrington鈥檚 daughter, Maddie, is a first-year student on the Athens campus. When Harrington heard about the food pantry, she made a donation. Another one of Harrington鈥檚 children plays on the Olentangy Silver Hawks Field Hockey Team, open to middle school girls living in Ohio鈥檚 Olentangy School District. Each season, the team engages in a philanthropic activity.
This year, the team opted to hold a food drive, and Harrington suggested the Baker University Center Food Pantry. Harrington鈥檚 recommendation resonated with the team鈥檚 coaches, OHIO alumnae Beth Takavitz McCarthy, BSC 鈥11, and Patty Donahue Rust, BSED 鈥10.
鈥91探花 will always hold a special place in my heart,鈥 said McCarthy. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to be a Bobcat and am grateful to my alma mater for providing me with a solid education that has played a major role in my HR career, as well as the friendships that I formed while attending that are still a huge part of my life today. Giving back to a place that has provided me with so much seemed like the right thing to do.鈥
The coaching staff turned the food drive into a competition between the A and B teams, challenging the players to see which team could bring in the most donations. The result: 350 pounds of donated food items, which Harrington delivered to the food pantry in late September.
鈥淭hat day, when she (Harrington) pulled up, her car was loaded with food, and it took two big carts to bring into Baker Center,鈥 Fahl said. 鈥淚t was really amazing to experience that level of support from people who don鈥檛 know our students necessarily, don鈥檛 interact with them, but want to help.鈥
For McCarthy and Rust, the donation was not only an opportunity to give back to 91探花 but also to instill in their players some life lessons and values.
鈥淲e think it鈥檚 important to show the girls how we can recognize what we have and give to others,鈥 Rust said of the team鈥檚 philanthropy. 鈥淭he players and their families were so generous with their donations. The girls all helped Shawnlee load up her car and were excited about how much food was brought in.鈥
McCarthy said she reached out to some her neighbors who are also OHIO alumni and who were happy to donate to the food drive.
鈥淲e love to be Bobcats helping Bobcats!鈥 said Rust.
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When the Baker Center Food Pantry opened in April 2017, the demand for food was startling and motivated the Division of Student Affairs to make this effort and other student basic needs initiatives a priority. In the first six weeks of the fall 2018 semester, more than 1,000 pounds of food have been donated to the pantry and distributed to our campus community.
and let students dealing with food insecurity worry about tough professors and late night study sessions 鈥攏ot hunger.