July 14, 2008

Purdue food services help fill food pantries across the region

The donations come primarily from University Residences' dining courts and restaurants, the university's Food Stores, which purchases food served at all on-campus venues, and students living on campus.

Purdue Food Stores director Shelly Cochran, who serves as vice-chair of the Food Finders Food Bank board of directors, says Purdue gives an amount equal to one-half percent of all the food consumed on campus. Donations peak when the semesters come to a close.

"The majority of the food is salvage product including meat which is left after food stores have processed their deli meats and new product samples that are no longer required. A minimal amount is from perishable milk, bread and produce which might expire while students are gone," Cochran said. "Our partnership with the food bank is ensuring that this food does not go to waste and benefits those most in need."

The food bank distributes donated items to food pantries, homeless shelters, senior centers, and other such facilities in a region that stretches across mid-north Indiana.

"Purdue's ongoing generosity is proving particularly helpful during tough economic times that are making sometimes unprecedented demands on our client facilities," said Barb Ahler, executive director of Food Finders Food Bank. "We have grown to depend on the good will of Purdue at many levels to help us meet the needs of struggling individuals in our area."

Purdue Food Stores personnel also donate their time and distribution expertise to the food bank. Because the Food Finders Food Bank has limited ability to store frozen food, Food Stores also stores donated frozen food until it is distributed across the region.

"We so appreciate Purdue's generous assistance," said food bank resource director Kim Motuliak. "Purdue is helping us access donations and meet nutritional needs that we would not be able to otherwise."

Purdue University Residences is promoting increased student involvement. A Shreve Hall freshman who volunteers at the food bank spearheaded a collection effort in 15 residences halls in May that netted two tons of food for the food bank.

"Our mission extends beyond providing room and board to our residents," said Barbara Frazee, executive director of University Residences. "We consistently foster opportunities for our students to develop leadership skills in projects that benefit the community at large."

Purdue Housing and Food Services is a self-sufficient division of Purdue University that receives no tax dollars and relies completely on user fee income to house and feed nearly 12,000 students each year.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources:   Shelly Cochran, (765) 494-2017, cochran@purdue.edu

Kim Motuliak, (765) 471-0062, kmotuliak@purdue.edu

Barbara Frazee, (765) 494-1000, bjfrazee@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Food Finders Food Bank teamsters will pick up seven tons of frozen food from Purdue at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (July 15). Photo, video and interview opportunities exist. For more information, contact Jim Schenke, Purdue News Service, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu.

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