Community Engagement Blog

How we do community engagement at Missouri State

Bears Fight Food Insecurity during Homecoming 2024

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Missouri State University’s 2024 Homecoming was more than just a celebration…

Wire shelves full of canned goods, and full refrigerators.
The Bear Pantry, located in Plaster Student Union, is stocked thanks to the Homecoming drive!

it was an opportunity for students to make a meaningful impact on food access in our community. Through a coordinated donation drive supporting both Ozarks Food Harvest and MSU’s Bear Pantry, MSU students came together to address a pressing issue: food insecurity. This project not only showcased students’ commitment to community engagement but also served as a powerful demonstration of the university’s Public Affairs Mission in action.

Student organizations from across campus donated 23,228 pounds of food!

Student stands behind pallets of donated canned food.
A student leader from the Bear Pantry looks at a fraction of the donated goods from Homecoming 2024.

This collective action has created real change, addressing critical needs within both the MSU community and the wider Ozarks region.

Special thanks go to the Office of Student Engagement and the 2024 Homecoming Committee for making this initiative possible. Conner Neal, the Homecoming Philanthropy Chair, led the charge in this impactful project. The Plaster Student Union (home of the Bear Pantry) provided space for the event. This collaborative effort reflects the dedication and generosity of MSU students to make a positive difference.

 

 

 

 

 

Learn more about Ozarks Food Harvest

Learn more about the Bear Pantry at Missouri State University

Emergency Packs (E-Packs)

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What are E-Packs? 

E-Packs (or Emergency Packs) are bags of non-perishable food and snack items that are designed to provide students with food for two to three days. These packs are currently in “satellite pantries” in three locations on campus: the Bear Cub Pantry in the Bear Claw in Meyer Library, RCASH Student Success Center in Strong Hall, and Forsythe Athletic building (for student athletes only). The packs are different from visiting the pantry in that, all items are in a “grab and go” style, saving time and extending pantry hours for students who may not have the time to get to the pantry during opening hours.
 

The current packs available on MSU campus include:  

  • Mac n’ cheese 
  • Tuna packets 
  • Granola bars 
  • Peanut butter crackers 
  • Peanut butter packs 
  • Goldfish 
  • Trail mix 
  • Fruit snacks 
  • Ramen 
  • Applesauce  
  • Shelf stable yogurt packs 
  • Oatmeal 
  • Rice packs 
  • Tuna and cracker packs 
  • Beef sticks 

We anticipate this program to be well utilized and would like to add products to the packs as there is need. 

More information about E-packs can be found here: https://tigerpantry.missouri.edu/emergency-food-packs/ 

Ozarks Food Harvest – Hope Notes

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Bear Pantry is partnering with Ozarks Food Harvest (OFH) to offer a new volunteer opportunity!

OFH is a local food bank that offers programs including:

  • Senior Boxes
  • Weekend Backpack Program
  • Mobile Food Pantry

One of the large programs offered is the Weekend Backpack Program, which provides elementary school-aged children with supplemental non-perishable goods to last all weekend. Within this program, they include a Hope Note in each of the packs so children have a little note of encouragement each time they receive their food.

OFH has a goal of reaching 70,000 Hope Notes to ensure that every child receives a note in their pack. This is where MSU students have the opportunity to help!

We are now offering a new volunteer opportunity to help create Hope Notes for OFH. So grab some friends and get your creative juices flowing—we’ll provide the materials, you provide the creativity!

Instructions:
  1. Contact Samantha Selsor (sgs823@live.missouristate.edu) to inquire about Hope Notes, including the number of students in your group (and any additional information you deem necessary).
  2. Schedule a time to come by the Bear Pantry to pick-up supplies (kits as pictured above include colored cardstock, stickers, crayons, markers, and colored pencils).
  3. Host your Hope Note making event! (If your group requires meeting space, we can schedule that in the PSU, please include this information in the initial email to Samantha).
  4. Bring all supplies and completed notes to the Bear Pantry—we will take care of delivery to OFH.

And that’s it! This is a great option for students who would like to volunteer with the Bear Pantry, yet can’t make it to events or have a large group (sorority, fraternity, or student organization) needing a fun activity.

We look forward to seeing the notes created and impact made in children’s lives!

October Blog Post – Bear Pantry

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Happy Fall Bears!

We are officially in the swing of the semester (7 weeks in—can you believe it?). Hope everyone has had a great start to the fall semester and are excited for the coming weeks.

We’ve been busy here in the Bear Pantry and have so many updates!

Exciting Updates

Due to increased popularity and listening to student feedback, we are beginning to stock more grab-and-go snack foods. Additionally, we are trialing an additional restock day of pantry staples!

Bear Pantry “pop-ups” are in the works as well! Right now, we have established the Bear Cub Pantry located in the Bear Claw in Meyer Library. Stop by there if you need a quick study snack!

Important Dates

  • Fall Break (October 10th and 11th): Bear Pantry closed for the long weekend.
  • Homecoming (October 13th-19th): Yay Homecoming! Be sure to check out the homecoming activities and get involved! Bear Pantry is participating in the Donation Drive (see below).
  • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Tabling (October 17th): We had a great turnout for our first two MU Extension SNAP tabling events. If you haven’t been able to make it, check out additional information provided below.

Homecoming Donation Drive

There are many traditions related to Homecoming, but the Donation Drive is my favorite! This year’s donation drive will benefit both the Center for Community Engagement (Bear Pantry) and Multicultural Resource Center (MSU’s Transition Closet). 

For the Bear Pantry, this is a canned food drive, and the weight of canned goods donated will correspond to the number of points received.  

Specific guidelines for acceptable donation items can be found within the Student Engagement Homecoming 2024 document.  

Items needed:  

  • Canned pasta sauce 
  • Canned soups 
  • Canned vegetables 
  • Canned beans 
  • Canned fruit
  • Canned tuna 
  • Canned chicken 
  • And any other foods in a can!

 The drive starts on Monday, October 14th at 1pm and ends Friday, October 18th at 2pm. Donations are accepted from 1pm-2pm each day! We are eagerly anticipating this event! 

MU Extension X Bear Pantry

We have an exciting partnership with MU Extension to bring SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and resources to our students. Each month, we will have a Nutrition Program Associate from MU Extension tabling to provide resources to students regarding SNAP benefits (including application assistance)! Join us monthly to learn more about this helpful program! 

Event details: Thursday, October 17th from 10AM-12PM in the Bear Pantry 

Volunteer Events

We have experienced successful volunteer events over the last few weeks and are looking for more ways to get students involved! This month, you can get involved by volunteering in the following events:  

  • Mondays: delivery and pickup days from Ozarks Food Harvest (OFH)  
    • 8:30-10:30am for delivery days  
    • 11am-1pm for pick-up days (time subject to change due to pick-up time availability)
  • Tuesday: hydroponics harvesting (dates TBD) 
    • 8-9am 
  • 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month: campus-wide donation bin collection  
    • 12-1pm 

Be sure to check our GivePulse for new events and sign up for volunteering. Details are provided for each volunteer event on the website. Link to GivePulse: https://www.givepulse.com/group/119561-Bear-Pantry 

Dietetic Interns

Did you know that Bear Pantry hosts MSU Dietetic Interns? Last month, we had Natalie Clayton and Chloe Terry come on their MSU week-long rotation. They created recipes and provided samples for members utilizing foods available in the pantry.  

Nutrition Corner

As a Nutrition and Dietetics student, nutrition is my passion! Nutrition Corner is our new digital platform for all things recipes, nutrition education information, how-to’s with products in the pantry, and everything in between! These recipes are tailored to ingredients that can be found in the pantry. Follow the link in our LinkTree to find the Nutrition Corner album. 

Always exciting here at the Bear Pantry! Come stop by and say hi! Do not forget to follow us on social media! 

  • Instagram: @mostatebearpantry & @mostatecce 
  • TikTok: @bearpantry 
  • Like us on Facebook: Bear Pantry  
  • YouTube: @mostatebearpantry  
  • LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bearpantrymsu 

September Blog Post – Welcome Back!

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Hello and welcome to the Fall 2024 semester!

Allow me to introduce myself and tell you about some upcoming events and volunteer opportunities at the Bear Pantry!

My name is Samantha Selsor, and I am a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and a graduate assistant with the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) overseeing the Bear Pantry. To say that I am excited to serve our student community in this role is an understatement! 

What is the MSU Bear Pantry? 

The Bear Pantry is a resource available to every MSU student, faculty, and staff members. 

How to Use the Bear Pantry?

Using the Bear Pantry is super easy! All you have to do is: 

  1. Complete a membership form. 
  2. Show your Bear Pass ID to check in. 
  3. Grab a basket. 
  4. Take what you need. 
  5. Check out. 
  6. Bag your items. 
  7. Come back when you have a need! 

Volunteer Events with Bear Pantry

Volunteering with the Bear Pantry is a great way to get some volunteer hours and give back to others. This semester, we will have regular volunteer opportunities throughout the week: 

  • Mondays: delivery and pickup days from Ozarks Food Harvest (OFH) 
    • 8:30-10:30am for delivery days 
    • 11am-1pm for pick-up days 
  • Wednesdays: hydroponics harvesting (dates TBD)
    • 3-4pm
  • 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month: campus-wide donation bin collection 
    • 12-1pm
  • Once a month: OFH Hope Note writing
    • Time TBD 
    • Great opportunity for organizations and large groups!

Be sure to check our GivePulse for new events and sign up for volunteering. Details provided for each volunteer event on the website. Link to GivePulse: https://www.givepulse.com/group/119561-Bear-Pantry  

How to Donate

We get lots of questions regarding how to donate to the Bear Pantry and (luckily) there are many ways to do this! 

  • Online: Check out our website (https://www.missouristate.edu/CCE/bear-pantry.htm) to make a monetary donation. (Located under: “gift your support – make a donation”). 
  • On campus: We have donation bins scattered across campus to make donating non-perishable goods to the pantry easy. Bins are located everywhere, including in front of the Bear Pantry, Magers Health and Wellness Center, Foster Recreation Center, Meyer Library, Blunt Hall, and more! Keep an eye out for black colored tubs with Bear Pantry stickers and signs on them. 
  • Donation Drives: Throughout the school year, there will be many donation drives to be part of, such as Homecoming and Giving Day. Stay tuned for details about these opportunities! 

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Education with MU Extension

The Bear Pantry has an exciting new partnership starting with MU Extension to bring SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and resources to our students. Each month, we will have a Nutrition Program Associate from MU Extension tabling to provide resources to students regarding SNAP benefits (including application assistance)! 

Join us monthly in the CCE suite or Bear Pantry to learn more about this helpful program! This month’s event is scheduled for Thursday, September 26th from 10AM-12PM. 

 

Whew! That’s a lot of updates! Feel free to stop by the Bear Pantry whenever you need or just to say hello. Don’t forget to follow us on social media! 

  • Instagram: @mostatebearpantry & @mostatecce 
  • TikTok: @bearpantry 
  • Like us on Facebook: Bear Pantry  
  • YouTube: @mostatebearpantry  
  • LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/bearpantrymsu