By Caitlyn Pray
Student Reporter
Under-privileged students and faculty of Northwestern no longer have to struggle and live without—all they have to do is turn to the Campus Cabinet.
“It’s a food pantry for the Northwestern community,” Angelia Case, initial co-founder and supervisor of the program, said. “It’s not restricted to just students, but students and all of our employees are welcome to use it if they need to.”
Since the cabinet debuted with a preview opening a week before Christmas break and officially opened Jan. 16, over 50 pounds of food have already been given. According to Case, the amount did little to empty their shelves of donated items.
“We want it to be Northwestern supporting Northwestern,” Case said.
“Thankfully, we have had wonderful alumni and staff that are supportive and helpful to us in so many ways.
The [Alumni] Foundation is housing a bank account for us so that anyone can donate to the Cabinet a monetary, tax-deductable donation if they prefer rather than donating food; the library also donated their shelves to us for free when they reduced their government document section, the Wellness Center is working on putting together a food drive event to help stock and support us, and different departments and in-service learning programs have contacted us asking how they can help and be a part of it. It’s been wonderful.”
Despite the growing vision and high hopes that Case said many have for the Cabinet, its heavy support, growing size and even the room it is housed in was not a part of the original idea.
Calleb Mosburg, dean of student affairs, donated to the Cabinet an available room in Shockley Hall because he said the rooms were available, secure yet accessible and he was glad to help in the cause.
Norhtwestern faculty and students are not the only benefactors and people interested in the Campus Cabinet. Kelsey Martin, board member of the “Bank It” program in Alva, awarded the Cabinet a one thousand dollar check because they were so impressed by its work.
“We were so impressed when we saw what all the Campus Cabinet was doing to help so many students and employees in need,” Martin said. “They submitted an application, and we were glad to help them in their service in the small way we could.”
The work is far from over for the growing number of volunteers behind the Campus Cabinet. Although Case said she is grateful for the 10 or so leaders who help the program run, the many benefactors and the growing number of volunteers, progress for the Campus Cabinet is always in mind and in the works.
“We are just so excited for the opportunities to be helpful.” Case said