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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. 

Stay Studious During Finals Week with Help From The Bear Pantry

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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.