Penn State Senior Class Gift to Fund Food Pantry for Students in Need

The Penn State Senior Class Gift Committee announced on Wednesday that the 2017 Class Gift would provide permanent, annual funding for Penn State’s Lion’s Pantry. The senior class voted and ultimately selected what seemed to be the most popular, supported option to give to one of Penn State’s important services instead of a physical memorial.

In selecting to give their gift to an existing Penn State service, the Class of 2017 follows in the Class of 2016’s widely supported decision to fund Counseling and Psychological Services, creating what may be the beginning of a trend where the seniors donate to the betterment of student life instead of the creation an object or piece of art.

Lion’s Pantry provides a student food pantry for Penn Staters, offering free food for any student with a Penn State ID, no questions asked. The pantry reports that, according to student aid data, 90 Penn State students report being homeless. Currently the pantry is funded by donations alone, with most coming from students attending New Student Orientation and fraternity and sorority fundraisers. In being selected as the class gift, Lion’s Pantry will now receive a permanent, annual source of funding. Here’s how the Class Gift Campaign originally described the proposal:

“College is an exciting time, but attaining a degree can also be exceptionally challenging both mentally and financially. Lion Pantry, the student food bank, helps in-need and at-risk students by providing free food to any student with a Penn State ID.

Because Lion Pantry is currently funded by donations alone, it is difficult for the program to meet the growing need for its services. By creating a permanent, annual source of funding to support Lion Pantry, the class of 2017 can help ensure that while their fellow students might need to worry about getting good grades, they will never need to worry about getting a good meal.”