Reno Reporter

The University of Nevada, Reno food pantry, Pack Provisions, is available to students who are experiencing hardship acquiring groceries.

According to a news release by the university, students can buy area ground beef made by an affiliate of the university’s Reno Experiment Station, Wolf Pack Meats and Desert Farming Initiative.

“The partnership has grown significantly,” said Jill Moe, director of the Initiative. “We’ve gone from having periodic donations of extra produce to Pack Provisions to now having year-round weekly deliveries of fresh organic fruit and vegetables from the University farm to feed students in need. It’s now truly a model ‘farm-to-food-pantry’ program.”

A 2020 University Center for Student Engagement Civic Engagement survey showed that one in four students has trouble securing food and during the 2020-2021 school year, there were over 4,000 visits to the campuses Pack Provisions.

“Part of our mission is serving the university community, and this collaboration with Pack Provisions is one way we can do that,” Tom Kulas, Wolf Pack Meats operations manager, said. “It has been rewarding to see students benefiting from our work.”

According to the university, for the past three years, the pantry has partnered with the Desert Farming Initiative.

Hanin Abboud Rodriguez, the student engagement outreach coordinator who oversees Pack Provisions, said the pantry currently has fresh produce and dairy items.

“With the addition of fresh meat, it has expanded the opportunity for students to cook a balanced meal at home,” Rodriguez added. “It is hard for students to study and be successful in the classroom if they are hungry, so we are thankful for these partnerships to help fight food insecurity.”