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Community Engagement Blog

How we do community engagement at Missouri State

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Stay Studious During Finals Week with Help From The Bear Pantry

December 10, 2021 by Audrey F. Williams

As finals week approaches, life can get hectic and stressful with tests and projects sneaking up. Many are studying all-night, neglecting their well-being and health at this crucial time to put their grades first.  

 

To perform the best, include nutritious foods to fuel your brain and body. This is where the Bear Pantry can help!  

 

At the Bear Pantry, many different food items can be found. Some options are milk, fresh produce, cheese sticks, granola bars, canned goods, and microwavable meals.  

 

Keeping your nutrition up during these stressful times is important. Our brains use energy in the form of glucose, a sugar found in carbohydrate foods. The Bear Pantry offers carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice, quinoa, fruit, potatoes and corn. When we study, our brain uses more fuel. This is why we may feel hungry after studying for a long time. Eating carbs will help reenergize our thinking tank. Including a carb source throughout the day will keep us going to retain more information and support our health and grades. It’s a win-win! 

 

Pairing carbohydrate foods with protein foods like cheese sticks, peanut butter, nuts, and canned meat can help us feel full for longer. Protein slows the digestion of carbs in our stomach, allowing for a slower release of sugar into our blood, which eventually makes its way to the brain. Pair carbs and protein to avoid sugar crashes and increase your study time for longer.  

 

Here are some quick carb and protein pairings for long bouts of studying: 

  • Peanut butter and jelly sandwich 
  • Rice with canned tuna 
  • Hard boiled egg with crackers 
  • Peanut butter with graham crackers  
  • Granola bar and cheese stick 
  • Greek yogurt with fruit and granola 
  • Cereal with milk 

 

The Bear Pantry frequently has these protein and carb food items to make these pairings, so come check us out! We are open Mondays 10am-3pm, Tuesdays 10am-3pm, Wednesdays 12pm-5pm, and Thursdays 10am-3pm.

Tagged With: #bearpantry, #citizenbear, #dieteticinternship, #foodinsecurity, #missouristateuniversity, #publicaffairs, Bear Pantry, Community Engagement, Nutrition

Spotlight – FSL Supports the Bear Pantry

December 2, 2021 by Sarah J. Waterman

Right before Thanksgiving Break, FSL officially set a new record for our largest donation yet at 2,084 pounds! Many of the donated items were canned goods, along with other non-perishable foods like pasta, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, and more. This is a great example of what it looks like to be a Citizen Bear!

All of the items in the Bear Pantry are supplied through donations. Big or small, each donation matters! Thank you to FSL and to all of the Bear Pantry’s donors for supporting student success. We are so thankful for each of you! 

Filed Under: Volunteer Tagged With: #citizenbear, Bear Pantry, Community Engagement, donations, public affairs

5 Ways to Get Involved with the Bear Pantry

November 15, 2021 by Kylie J. Mignone

The Bear Pantry on Missouri State’s campus has seen massive growth this school year. From usage of resources to an increased interest in supporting our initiative to end food insecurity read for more information on how you can contribute to our mission:  

1. Volunteer  

  • Sign up to volunteer on GivePulse. Each time slot is 2 hours. Please only sign up for time slots you are able to be present at. Please cancel through GivePulse if no longer able to complete the service opportunity. 
Volunteers repacking hygiene products

2. Host a Donation Drive  

  • Connect with us through email bearpantry@missouristate.edu to let us know when you plan on hosting your drive and how we can support. 
  • Share a list of items to give others ideas of what to donate.  
Food Drive hosted by the Meyer Library

3. Visit our Amazon Wishlist

  • Whether you live on campus or across the country, our Amazon Wishlist is a simple way to donate high-priority food or hygiene products to the pantry.  
Our fridge filled with non-dairy milk options donated by Angie using our Amazon wishlist

4. Monetary Donation through the University’s Foundation  

  • Donations can be given online or through mail to the following address:  
    • Missouri State University Foundation 
      Kenneth E. Meyer Alumni Center 
      300 South Jefferson, Suite 100 
      Springfield, MO 65806
Boomer visiting the Bear Pantry

5. Keep up with the Bear Pantry on Social Media  

  • Support the Bear Pantry by sharing and interacting with our posts online.  
  • Instagram 
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Blog 
Kayla with a produce delivery to the pantry – follow us for exciting updates
Interested in more Information? Reach out via email BearPantry@MissouriState.edu or request a Bear Pantry Staff member to speak at your organization’s next meeting by filling out this form 

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Volunteer Tagged With: #citizenbear, Bear Pantry, food insecurity, public affairs, servant leader

Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

November 11, 2021 by Sarah J. Waterman

November 13-21, 2021 is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During this week, people come together across the country to bring attention to hunger and homelessness. In the United States, many Americans have to choose between which basic necessities they can afford for that day, week, month. For instance: 

  • 37.2 million Americans live below the poverty level.  
  • 44 million Americans are at risk of suffering from hunger.  
  • 580,000 are homeless on a typical night.
  • 1 in 6 children in the U.S. live in poverty. 

One way to address these issues are by taking action through volunteering! To find opportunities to serve, check out Give Pulse. Through Give Pulse you can find opportunities with the Bear Pantry, Campus Garden (which provides produce to the Bear Pantry), Hands of Hope (with Convoy of Hope), Drew Lewis Foundation, and more! 

Click here for more information in regards to Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.

Information from: Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.  

Filed Under: Missouri Public Affairs Academy, Volunteer Tagged With: #citizenbear, Bear Pantry, Community Engagement, public affairs

Globalize our Campus through Peace Corps Prep

October 13, 2021 by Kylie J. Mignone

Peace Corps

The Peace Corps Prep program is a flexible certificate that can easily be earned in conjunction with most Missouri State degree programs. This program allows for a variety of interests in:  

  • Agriculture  
  • Community and economic development  
  • Education  
  • Environment  
  • Health  
  • Youth Development  

There is plenty of room to expand your service skills and global knowledge for potential use in the U.S. Peace Corps, related programs, or to stand out in the general workforce.  

How to Start Your Peace Corps Prep Journey?  

Step 1: Connect with Missouri State’s Peace Corps Prep Coordinator 

  • Alex Johnson is the Center for Community Engagement Director and is in charge of advising Peace Corps Prep students!
  • Set up a meeting with Alex here to learn about the ins and outs of the certificate program, select relevant courses, and stay on track to complete by graduation.  

Are you in your final years at Missouri State? Guess what! Most upperclassmen may already meet most of the requirements for the PCP certificate. Interested in making it happen? Reach out to see what final steps will lead you to graduate with this certificate!  

Step 2: Review the PCP Student Guide  

This guide outlines the competencies and requirements that will be met through the Peace Corps Prep program.   

This guide outlines the competencies and requirements that will be met through the Peace Corps Prep program  

  • Complete 3 courses that align with your area of interest  
  • Accumulate 50 volunteer hours during your college career 
  • Hone your foreign language skills – coursework will vary based on an area of interest 
  • Take 3 courses that focus on cultural differences or behaviors  
  • Partake in a significant leadership experience   

Continue to check in with your PCP advisor to ensure you are participating in service-based experiences to enhance your public affairs work.  

Step 3: Complete the Exit Checklist  

Ready for graduation? Make sure to review the exit checklist to ensure all requirements have been completed before graduating so the Peace Corp can issue your certificate. This checklist will also be included within a Peace Corp application to display your qualifications if chosen to do so in the future.  

Connect with Alex Johnson at alexjohnson@missouristate.edu or find more information here

Tagged With: #citizenbear, Center for Community Engagement, Peace Corps, Service Learning

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