Emory & Henry College launched The Kitchen Closet on Tuesday, February 16. The Kitchen Closet is a free resource that students who do not have enough food or funds to purchase food can get a meal, snack or ingredients to prepare a meal. Any student can access The Kitchen Closet, residential or commuter.
“Emory & Henry is committed to making sure that all our students have the support they need to learn and be successful,” says Joseph Vess, director of Integrative Learning. “Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were students who did not have enough food and today, there are even more. We feel The Kitchen Closet will ensure that all our students have enough to eat.”
Sodexo, Emory & Henry’s dining services, will be providing and continuously stocking the items for The Kitchen Closet. A range of food is available including beverages, snacks, fresh fruit, and refrigerated or frozen food and meals which can be reheated.
“Overall, we know that food insecurity on college campuses is a serious problem,” says Dr. Shelley Koch, Chair of Sociology Department at Emory & Henry. “In a survey conducted on our campus in February of 2020, we found that Emory’s campus was no different: many Emory students experienced hunger and food insecurity. The Kitchen Closet is a way to address this clear need by offering additional food to the entire student body.”
The Kitchen Closet will also begin providing toiletries soon.
The Kitchen Closet is located just inside the Van Dyke Center and is open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visit ehc.edu/kitchencloset.
