Pitchfork Pantry, a solution to on-campus food insecurity

Pitchfork Pantry is a resource on campus for students struggling with food insecurity. It is a student volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit under ASU Foundation.

Their goal is to “raise awareness of financial and food insecurities among the Sun Devil Community. The pantry provides fresh and non-perishable food items as well as hygiene and clothing items to ASU students,” according to their website. 

The faculty advisor for the Pitchfork Pantry is Professor Maureen McCoy of the College of Health Solutions. She oversees the operations, community partnerships and finances of Pitchfork Pantry. 

“Pitchfork Pantry began in January 2017 after research had shown that 32% of students living in the dorms at Arizona State University reported inconsistent access to food,” says McCoy. 

Their website adds that “this led a group of students to form a student club that they named the ‘Pitchfork Pantry.’ The club started on the ASU Tempe campus in a small space in one of the Residence Halls, and at the ASU Downtown campus in a shared space. At the time, this started to meet the needs of the students, but more support was needed.” This then led to the group expanding their community connections and allowing them to get their own designated spaces on the different campuses. 

Colette “Charlie” Webb, a senior theater student, relied on Pitchfork Pantry during their first semester at ASU after complications with the dispersal of their financial aid.  “It was scary, mostly not being on my feet like that, scrounging for resources, jumping into safety nets that weren't actually there. Pitchfork Pantry was the one resource I was pointed to that was actually there,” says Webb. 

Their team works closely with community groups who volunteer and hold food drives. 

McCoy adds, “Students can volunteer at our food distributions, which occur twice per week at Downtown and Tempe and once per month at West. We also do large distributions on the second Saturday of each month in Tempe and accept large groups of students to volunteer.”

To find out more about how to aid Pitchfork Pantry in improving the food security statues of sun Devils, check out the Support Us tab on their website and consider volunteering or donating.

Pitchfork Pantry works with all of the major food banks in the area and also does grocery rescue from Trader Joes. They also purchase fresh produce from Sun Produce Cooperative to support local farmers. 

For students in need of food assistance, they can RSVP on the events page of their website. 

Follow Pitchfork Pantry @asupitchforkpantry to keep up to date with their events and how you can support them. 

For more information about the other basic need resources provided by ASU visit https://eoss.asu.edu/resources/basic-needs.