While the East Texas A&M University campus is much quieter without the buzz of activity during the fall and spring semesters, the Lion Food Pantry continues its worthwhile service for students attending summer courses.

Located through the south entrance of the Performing Arts Center, the food pantry is a resource available to all currently enrolled students, where they can stock up on food items every week for free. During the fall or spring, an average of 160 to 200 students use this service each week. Even with fewer students on campus during the summer, dozens are still expected at the pantry on a weekly basis.

“We do have fewer students on campus during the summer, so our visits do drop, but we can expect to see around 40-70 students weekly,” said Amy Horton, assistant director of Student Advocacy and Support, which oversees the Lion Food Pantry. “We believe that while our number of visits may be lower, we still want to provide students with pantry options and food security while they are still here and still in need.”

Horton added that the food selection will be very similar to regular semesters; however, more types of summer produce may be available.

Signing up to use the Lion Food Pantry is free and easy. Students just need to create a PantrySoft account and fill out a short intake form. The food pantry is open during the summer terms on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If students are not able to attend during these hours, they can email [email protected] to request an appointment.

Students can also request an emergency bag, containing shelf-stable items only, that can be placed in the pantry’s locker system for pickup using a code provided through that email correspondence.

Want to learn more and how you can support the Lion Food Pantry? Read our recent profile.