Brookhaven’s food pantry is more than a place to get a meal – it serves students, staff, faculty and the community by lending a hand in ways Brookhaveans may not have otherwise thought of.
The pantry’s mission is to help Brookhaven’s community with daily essentials and provide everyday support for their needs. “The food pantry is here to help students and community members with their daily substance and any available requirement that we can serve to,” said Syed Tulush Shams Mahmood, a staff member of the food pantry.
The food pantry has expanded its services to frozen goods, snacks, drinks, clothing and childcare products. On a larger scale, the pantry also helps with housing, financial aid support and more.
Brookhaveans now have access to fresh items like frozen meat, dry products and proteins such as milk and eggs. For those on the go, there are snacks such as cups of ramen, chips and granola bars, which are always in high demand. Additionally, there is a coffee station to keep students fueled for the day.
Student Thi Ngoc Ny frequently visits the food pantry and has also given back by donating clothing to help others. “I usually go to the food pantry to grab a snack before my class,” Ny said. “I get hungry, so I come here to find something like a snack or milk to fill my stomach. It helped me a lot.”
Some may know that Brookhaveans can also get clothes from the pantry. One can go through the variety of donated clothing and find exactly what meets one’s needs, including jackets, sweaters, shirts, pants, suits, ties, dresses and shoes. Each student can receive up to five items a month.
In the winter season, essential warm items become more popular, such as trousers and pants, as well as winter jackets. Mahmood said warm wear gets snatched up quickly.
Brookhaveans who stop by the pantry can choose two items from their weekly food shopping, as well as two items daily from the grab-and-go selection. They also have an option to choose one item from the freezer or refrigerator each week if they choose.
Parents and single parents can also benefit from the pantry. A few items that are easily accessible are child products, such as car seats and baby strollers. A family care program is also offered to help mothers or parents on campus.
Outside sources referred by the pantry that not many may know about are Catholic Charities, Metro Care and Metro Crest Services. They can also help locate assistance to file a SNAP application. Lashae Miller, Student Care Coordinator and networker said, “This is a no shame, no judgment environment.”
“The fact that it’s open to all is usually a mystery to most of the public that comes by,” Mahmood said. The pantry runs a Community Pantry Days weekly on Fridays, which means the pantry is open to everyone in the community – not just Brookhaveans. Additionally, they offer Drive-Thru Pantry Days where community members can drive through to pick up free groceries.
Volunteers play a key role at the pantry. Miller encouraged students to get involved. “All we really ask for is that you come with a willingness to help,” Miller said. “You would make the perfect volunteer.” Mentioning an upcoming Drive-Thru Pantry Day on April 22, Miller said they will need extra hands.
“Being a student is not an easy thing to do, so we are here to bridge that gap and fill in with services that we can help to make that a little bit of a smoother process for them,” Miller said.
The more people that sign up, Mahmood said, the better. The community can help the pantry by donating their time and/or non-perishable food as well as gently used clothing. The higher the demand, the more donations the pantry will receive from outside sources.
