Community Engagement Blog

How we do community engagement at Missouri State

Home » #missouristateuniversity

Fun-to-Knows with the Bear Pantry

by

We are officially past the halfway point of the semester! As we head into Spring Break, here are some updates and fun-to-knows about your university’s food pantry.

Pantry Updates

Last semester, we received a grant from Swipe Out Hunger, the nation’s largest non-profit organization to support university food pantries, allowing us to purchase an additional refrigeration unit for the Bear Pantry! It is housed in the backroom and has been used to store cold overstock items like eggs and bakery items. The new fridge will support additional food to restock the main fridges throughout the week, allowing us to serve over 350 people weekly.

Fun Facts

Now for some interesting facts and tidbits about the Bear Pantry!

Bear Pantry’s Beginnings and Milestones
  • The Bear pantry was founded in 2019 as a continuation of a project Alex Johnson, Director of the CCE, was working on with a graduate student. Since its conception, the Bear Pantry has seen steady growth. We now distribute over seven times the amount of food and have almost four times the number of members as our first year!
  • We obtain our food through several ways. Ozarks Food Harvest is our main food supplier, and we use donated money to purchase food items. We also partner with Campus Gardens; they donate fresh produce during growing seasons. Donations also drive our supply through drives, campus donation bins, and anonymous gifts through our Amazon Wishlist.
  • We receive grant funding through the Student Sustainability Fund which has supported a significant part of our operations.
Bear Pantry’s Longest Staff Member
  • Our longest staff member is our Area Manager, Reish Burnett, who has served with us for three years. His study in dietetics compliments his work at the Bear Pantry where he manages the hydroponics towers, emphasizes food safety, and focuses on nutritious food purchases for the Pantry. Reish graduates with his bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics this May and will continue with his studies in the Accelerated Master’s in Nutrition & Dietetics.
Handy Hacks for Pantry Basics

Let us know which handy hack is your favorite!

  • Use instant potatoes instead of cream to thicken soups
  • Swap applesauce or yogurt for eggs in baked items – but swing by the Bear Pantry if you run out of eggs!
  • Rinse canned vegetables and beans to reduce the sodium level
  • Use powdered milk as protein powder (8 grams protein in a ¼ cup of powder)
  • Microwave thinly sliced zucchini or squash to make veggie chips
  • Use a mason jar ring to make perfectly round eggs on the stovetop
  • When opening a food can, poke holes in the bottom to remove the vacuum seal for the can to completely empty
  • Bake, instead of boil, whole eggs in the oven to make hard boiled eggs
  • Opening new jars – dent the edge of the lid with a butterknife handle to release some air to allow for seamless opening

Past/Upcoming events

  • MoState Ag students, faculty, staff, and friends helped drive food distribution over the weekend at their annual Darr Difference Day by filling 300 snack packs for the Bear Pantry! Swing by during open hours to grab one!
  • Teaching Kitchens – another event is coming up March 27th hosted by dietetics graduate Betsy Whitehurst! Register here.
  • Greek Week’s annual donation drive for the Bear Pantry is April 13-18th! Last year, philanthropies raised an incredible $60,000 worth of food and hygiene items that greatly supported our operations. Donated goods will be distributed throughout the following weeks.
  • If you’re having trouble finding time to visit us, remember the Pantry’s after-hours on Mondays from 5-7pm and Tuesdays from 5-5:30pm.

 

Donations Drives Support the Bear Pantry This November

by

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

by

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

by

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

by

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.