UNL food pantry working to make sure no Husker goes hungry

College exams and homework are stressful enough, but imagine having to worry about where your next meal is going to come from.

The Huskers Helping Huskers food pantry is working to alleviate that concern for some University of Nebraska- Lincoln students.

“It’s a burden when you have to think about you’re going to find your next meal or how you’re going to stretch your money when you have the electric bill and rent and food and a lot of times food is the last thing when you have other priorities,” said Megan Patel, the program coordinator for the pantry.

A student survey conducted in 2015 found one in three UNL students worried about having enough food.

School officials knew something had to be done, so in January 2017 Huskers Helping Huskers pantry opened on the third floor of the UNL Student Union.

Since it started last winter the pantry has seen use jump from 17 students making weekly visits to nearly 80 students visiting every week.

Students do not have to be designated as low income to use the pantry, the only requirements for use are an ‘N’ card and current enrollment in at least one credit hour.

Patel says there’s no shame in coming to the pantry, they just want to help.

“We want to immediately get students food if they don’t have any.”

Students are allowed to take as many items as they need and visit however many times they want.

The pantry offers everything from canned goods, to fresh vegetables, to hygiene items. It’s all donated.

The best part for Patel and the two dozen students who volunteer at the pantry is knowing no Husker is going hungry.

“Seeing literally on their face that the stress has been taken away and they walk out with bags of food, you know that for at least a little while they’re going to be good and eat and focus on school work.”