MISSOULA — The University of Montana Food Pantry is trying to gather more information on student hunger, but first it has to raise some money.
The organization is working on a Crowd Funding campaign right now to participate in the national Real College Survey which gathers information from colleges and students across the country.
Last year's survey revealed at least 67% of UM students experienced some form of basic need or financial insecurity in the previous year.
The food pantry's goal is to provide free food and hygiene products to students and staff. Student coordinator Kat Cowley says right now they need fresh produce, protein, and donations to the crowd fund.
"Struggling to afford to eat, and to eat well every day makes it really hard to focus in class or find time to study,” Cowley told MTN News. “And especially if you’re having to work way more hours during the week, you end up not being able to study or go to class even. So, [the food pantry] was helping both confront that academic problem as well as the health problem."
The University of Montana Food Pantry is a nonprofit organization that has provided over 3,000 pounds of food to people since opening in February of this year.
Click here to help out their fundraising effort.
