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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. 

Bear Pantry distributed 5900 lbs of goods in Fall 2020

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The Bear Pantry serves as a resource for Missouri State students, staff, and faculty who may face food insecurity.  In the Fall 2020 semester, more than 5,900 lbs of food and hygiene items were distributed, marking an unprecedented semester.

Support from Citizen Bears

Generous support from students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community members allowed the Bear Pantry to consistently serve 539 people in Fall 2020 through in-person shopping and online orders.

University departments and donors also supported the growth of healthy food options offered by the Bear Pantry.  For example, a graduate student from the Darr College of Agriculture developed a hydroponics garden system, through which the Bear Pantry can grow its own fresh produce.  In addition, the  MSU Campus Garden donated more than 300 lbs of fresh produce in 2020.  Dietetic Interns developed healthy recipes, food demos, and shopping lists for Bear Pantry members and donors.

In 2021, the Bear Pantry continues to develop ways to sustainably address food insecurity and support student success. To become a Bear Pantry member, visit the website or stop by the University Hall basement (Monday-Friday, 10a.m.-2p.m).

Learn how you can support the Bear Pantry

 

Office of Information Services supports the Bear Pantry in a big way

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The Information Services Division at Missouri State University conducted a food drive at the end of the Fall 2020 semester to support the Bear Pantry.  Collection bins were set up on campus, and the Bear Pantry’s Amazon Wishlist was promoted.

Jeff Coiner, Chief Information Officer at MSU

Information Services staff donated 186 lbs of food and hygiene items through this drive.  These items directly support MSU community members utilizing the Bear Pantry.

Learn about the Office of Information Services

Learn about ways to support the Bear Pantry

 

Putting a spin on ramen: Southwest ramen noodles

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The Bear Pantry and the Nutrition and Dietetics department are partnering to promote healthy eating choices, while decreasing food insecurity on campus.

MSU Dietetic Intern, Kelsey, demonstrated how to put a healthier spin on ramen noodles with ingredients found in the Bear Pantry.

Southwest ramen noodles can me made with ingredients found in the Bear Pantry.

Ingredients

  • 1 packet of ramen instant ramen noodles 
  • ¼ cup black beans, drained and rinsed 
  • ¼ cup canned corn, drained, and rinsed 
  • ¼ cup canned diced tomatoes with green chiles 
  • ¼ cup bell pepper, chopped 
  • ¼ cup onion, chopped 
  • Reduced sodium taco seasoning, to taste 
Dietetic Intern, Kelsey, conducts a food demo with ingredients found in the Bear Pantry.

Directions

  1. Add two cups of water to a microwave safe bowl, place in microwave and heat water for four minutes. 
  2. Add the ramen noodles to the bowl of water, heat for an additional 4 minutes. 
  3. While ramen is cooking, rinse, drain, and measure out black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes, set aside 
  4. Chop the onion and bell pepper, set aside. 
  5. Once ramen has been cooked, remove bowl from microwave. 
  6. Add reduced sodium taco seasoning and stir. 
  7. Add beans, corn, tomatoes, pepper, and onion to noodles. 

Dietetic Internship Graduate Certificate at Missouri State

This program’s mission is to prepare competent registered dietitian nutritionists who are citizen scholars, with expertise in either public affairs or rural health, who will meet the need of dietetic practitioners across the nation.

Learn more about the Dietetic Internship

Learn more about Bear Pantry