Community Engagement Blog

How we do community engagement at Missouri State

Teaching Kitchens Equip Bear Pantry Members with Cooking Skills

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Exciting things are stirring in the Foods Lab on the top floor of Kampeter.  

Interactive cooking classes, called “teaching kitchens” spark connections between peers and support cooking skills as dietetic graduate students lead hour-long sessions focusing on creating meals from the Bear Pantry. 

Titled “Foodie Fridays”, the idea for this class stemmed from a collaboration between the Bear Pantry and the dietetics department to focus on supporting UN Sustainable Development Goal #2: Zero Hunger. MSU students, faculty, and staff are receiving food from the Bear Pantry but may not know how to cook nutritious, balanced meals with the ingredients. As there was not a resource currently being offered, Stephanie Urich, Clinical Instructor for the School of Health Sciences, and Dr. Alex Johnson, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, decided to fill this gap.  

Over two separate sessions, Monse Velazquez, graduate student in the dietetics program, led fifty Bear Pantry members through the process of cooking a chicken pot pie and a chickpea curry…all from ingredients you can commonly find at food pantries.  

Monse was inspired to focus on canned goods. “Growing up in Paraguay, we didn’t have canned goods like we do here in the U.S… When I moved here, I realized canned goods were very affordable, but I didn’t know how to cook with them, and that was a challenge. Many Bear Pantry members are international students who face this same barrier. Having access to canned goods is helpful, but only if you know what to do with them. I wanted to fill that gap and make pantry foods feel approachable, familiar, and exciting,” notes Monse. 

“Having access to canned goods is helpful, but only if you know what to do with them. I wanted to fill that gap and make pantry foods feel approachable, familiar, and exciting” 

A blend of hands-on cooking experience and nutrition education made up the session. The participants were placed in groups and worked together to create the meal, then Monse led them through creating nutritious, balanced meals with ingredients on hand. 

“One thing I think is really special about this new project is the opportunity it brings our Nutrition & Dietetics students to get real-world, hands-on experience. We’re not just having fun and eating delicious food in the kitchen (although we are doing that!). We’re helping to build food literacy and improve health outcomes in our campus community,” Stephanie remarks. 

Dietetic graduate student Betsy Whitehurst will be continuing the monthly series starting next February. 

That’s not the only way teaching kitchens support the Bear Pantry. 

Dr. Daniela Novotny, Senior Instructor for the School of Health Sciences and her DTN 695 research class led two teaching kitchen sessions focusing on meals from the Bear Pantry in October. With an audience of first-generation college students through the Bears Lead group, the sessions focused on cooking basics, dorm cooking, and snack hacks. Power Bowls with Creamy Avocado Sauce, Bean & Veggie Quesadillas, and Microwave Peach Crisps were all on the menu. 

Being a research class, the group analyzed the data to find that the group felt more confident in the kitchen and built their nutrition knowledge on a statistically significant level.  

Teaching kitchens are showing great promise in supporting the Bear Pantry! 

How to Join Foodie Fridays 

  • You must be a Bear Pantry member to join.  
  • A sign-up form will be emailed to Bear Pantry members in advance. The form will also be posted in the Bear Pantry. 
  • Come and attend a fun cooking session!
  • Spots fill quickly so don’t miss out!  

Donations Drives Support the Bear Pantry This November

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Donation drives are making a major impact on the Bear Pantry this November. 

Two separate events brought in 482 pounds of food—totaling 728 individual items—to be distributed to Bear Pantry members, strengthening food security on campus. 

During Halloween, nutrition and music Bears joined forces in a neighborhood-wide effort to support their campus community. Members of Mu Phi Epsilon and the Student Dietetic Association (SDA) partnered to build a bridge between the Rountree neighborhood and Missouri State University. 

The week before Halloween, students went door to door informing residents about the donation drive, giving them time to gather items. On Halloween night, 25 students took to the streets, greeted by smiling faces and generous hands as dozens of Rountree residents contributed food to help fellow Bears.

Trick or Soup Donations

 

With the same spirit of generosity, the Laboratory Theatre Company (LTC) hosted a donation drive during their showing of Out!, written by MSU alum Arden Dickson. The production—focused on college student experiences—was paired with a meaningful opportunity to give back. For every performance, LTC partners with a local nonprofit to promote community engagement and social impact. 

LTC Donations

Together, these collaborative efforts resulted in nutritious food going into the hands of Bear Pantry members, reinforcing the ongoing commitment of Missouri State students to support one another through service and compassion. 

Want to make an impact too? The Office of Enrollment Management is hosting a campus-wide donation drive, “Bears Can-Do”, to support food security amidst the growing challenges individuals are facing. Check out their blog to get involved. 

The Bear Pantry extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated. Your collaboration embodies what it means to be a Bear—supporting one another through action and compassion. 

Athletics Makes an Impact for Bear Pantry Community

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On October 3rd, student athletes scored a big win in a meaningful way.

Families, fans, and students gathered on Missouri State’s turf to cheer on four athletic home events including swimming & diving, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, and men’s soccer. At the same time, Beth Perine and the acrobatics & tumbling team welcomed donations for the Bear Pantry.

“I wanted to help expand awareness of the Bear Pantry and how it helps the students, faculty, and staff.” Beth Perine, former softball coach and current athlete academic advisor, notes. She also wanted to provide her student-athletes with an opportunity to make an impact in the community.

A collaborative effort, athletic teams and the athletic department shared the message on social media to market the drive.

900+ shelf-stable items were donated to the Bear Pantry.

When Sydney Wilson, the Director of Student-Athlete Development, heard about the event, she jumped at the opportunity to get the Bears Leadership Institute, an athletic leadership development program, involved as well.

The following Monday during their regular meeting times, 17 student-athletes and facilitators filled the Pantry with laughter and hard work to process the donations from the drive. “We have strong athletes. We hauled everything over to the [Bear Pantry] and put people to work…getting athletes involved and giving back,” said Sydney.

Bears Leadership athletes pose with food

“The Bears Leadership event helped our Bear Pantry team a lot following such a big donation drive. It’s a process to haul, sort, inventory, and stock the shelves with so many items. We appreciated their help,” said Natalie Barbieri, Graduate Assistant for the Bear Pantry.

“We have strong athletes. We hauled everything over to the Bear Pantry and put people to work…Getting athletes involved and giving back”

“My favorite part of the event was taking inventory… it was awesome to see the pantry go from just a few items on the shelves to being fully stocked. It was super fun to work with my teammates and the athletic leadership team to refill the pantry,” Evie Kolb, a junior on the swimming & diving team.

Looking back at the event, Beth loved seeing the interaction between the student athletes and the people donating. People were grateful for the opportunity to donate, and the student-athletes expressed gratitude for their donations in return.

People were grateful for the opportunity to donate, and the student-athletes expressed gratitude for their donations in return.

Some people came up to Beth and mentioned how they remember their college years and being hungry sometimes. “There was a lot of ramen going on”, they said. They were happy to help diminish that experience for students.

Highlights

  • Beth Perine hosted a food drive for the Bear Pantry during several home athletic events on October 3rd.
  • Over 900 items were donated to the Bear Pantry.
  • Following the food drive, athletes and faculty from the Bears Leadership Institute processed and stocked donated items in the Bear Pantry.

Support the Bears at MSU’s upcoming sports events!

Visit the Bear Pantry!

Take Action – September is Hunger Action Month

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September is here—which means pumpkin spice lattes are officially back at Starbucks, but so is Hunger Action Month! 

Hunger Action Month, now in its 18th year, is a national campaign created by Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief network. Its mission is simple yet powerful: to elevate voices, raise awareness, and drive change to end hunger in America. 

Right here in Springfield, food insecurity affects nearly 17% of our community, according to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap study. Food insecurity happens when individuals don’t have the resources to access enough nutritious food—and hunger is the direct and devastating result. 

Thankfully, several local programs are making a difference both on campus and throughout Springfield: 

  • Ozarks Food Harvest – Springfield’s largest food bank and the Bear Pantry’s main supplier.  
  • Crosslines – The area’s largest food pantry, serving nearly 70,000 people each year. 
  • Victory Mission – A faith-based organization providing emergency relief, long-term services, and more than 120 meals a day. 
  • Salvation Army – Offers emergency relief and daily meals through the Front Line Feeding Program at Harbor House. 
  • Well of Life – Located near campus, this pantry distributes food to the community twice a week. 

How YOU Can Take Action This Month 

Hunger Action Month is the perfect time to get involved. Here are a few simple but meaningful ways: 

  • Advocate for change. Use your voice to shine a light on food insecurity. 
  • Volunteer. Your time and service can make a lasting impact. 
  • Host a donation drive. Choose a local organization to support and rally your community to contribute. 

Upcoming Events 

Stay tuned—don’t miss these important opportunities to take action and see what’s coming up on campus! 

  • Family Weekend: September 19th-21st  
    • Missouri State is hosting a food drive to support the Bear Pantry. To contribute, bring items to any of the several donation bins across campus. Map is shown below. 

  • Bear Pantry Food Drive in Hammons Student Center: October 3rd 
    • This food drive, hosted by former softball coach and current academic advisor Beth Perine, is accepting donations as fans gather at the Hammon’s Student Center and the Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium to watch MSU volleyball, swim, and soccer events. 
  • “Trick-or-Soup” Halloween Food Drive: October 31st  
    • Missouri State’s Mu Phi Epsilon and Student Dietetic Association are teaming up this Halloween for a food drive with a twist—trick-or-treating for canned goods instead of candy. Mu Phi Epsilon has supported the Bear Pantry with this tradition since 2008, and this marks SDA’s second year joining the effort. 

Delta Dental Donation Supports Health and Wellness at the Bear Pantry

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The Bear Pantry at Missouri State University is expanding its impact, thanks to a generous in-kind donation from Delta Dental to the MSU Foundation. This thoughtful contribution of oral hygiene products—including dental floss, toothpaste, and toothbrushes—will be distributed through the Bear Pantry to support the health and wellness of our campus community.

CCE Student Specialist, McKennzee Newton, displays donated products.

Access to oral care products is a key component of overall wellness but is often overlooked in conversations about basic needs. By providing these essential hygiene items, Delta Dental is helping the Bear Pantry further its mission of reducing barriers and supporting student success.

“We’re grateful for Delta Dental’s commitment to supporting holistic student wellness,” said Alex Johnson, Director of the Center for Community Engagement. “This donation helps us serve our community more fully and ensures that Bear Pantry guests have access to both nutritious food and critical personal care items.”

The Bear Pantry serves all members of the Missouri State University community, including students, faculty, and staff. Together, with the support of partners like Delta Dental and the MSU Foundation, the Bear Pantry is advancing its mission to meet basic needs and build a stronger, healthier campus community.

For more information on how to donate or get involved with the Bear Pantry, visit https://www.missouristate.edu/CCE/bear-pantry.htm.