Join the Friendly Competition to Fight Food Insecurity: It's Time to Pack the Pantry

The 2025 edition of Pack the Pantry, which supports the Student Nutrition Access Center, is in full swing now through Dec. 12.

The friendly competition pits teams of employees and students from USU colleges and other campus entities against one another, ultimately benefiting students and others in the USU community who need food assistance.

This year’s goal is to collect 5,000 pounds of food to stock SNAC’s shelves with essential items. In 2024, the Pack the Pantry drive brought in more than 6,046 pounds.

Information about team configurations and food drop-off locations is available on the Pack the Pantry website. Financial donations are welcome and are converted to pounds of food at a rate of $2 per pound, and every $1 donated through a new payroll deduction equals 3 pounds of food.

Monetary contributions allow pantry staff and volunteers the flexibility to purchase needed items to support the more than 60% of USU students and others at the Logan campus who report periodic food insecurity, defined as not having access to sufficient nutritious food.

SNAC also reduces food waste as USU Dining Services and several area restaurants collaborate with volunteers to collect and safely repackage unserved food that would otherwise go to the landfill.

The most-needed items on SNAC’s wish list include canned vegetables, soup, chili, tuna, chicken, peanut butter, pasta and sauces, lentils and beans, boxed macaroni and cheese, oatmeal, and other nonperishable goods.