Gearing up for summer
We are fast-approaching the end of another academic year- it’s been an eventful one, to say the least! We wish our students well as they prepare for final projects & exams, and we hope you can find time to get out and enjoy the sunshine.
This summer, we are once again partnering with the University Center Gardens to provide weekly distributions of fresh produce throughout the growing season. Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for harvest distribution dates!
We are also excited to partner with Local Bounti & Seedlings 4 Solidarity to increase the availability of local, fresh produce in our community- through sustainable farming practices, gardening workshops, free produce distributions, and more!
Based in Hamilton, MT, Local Bounti is an indoor farming company starting a new chapter in agriculture. They are incredibly passionate about delivering year-round local, non-GMO and herbicide/pesticide residue-free greens to the local communities that they serve — including the Griz family!
We will be hosting a summer kickoff event featuring tons of great information, fun activities, and plenty of ways to get involved. Join us on May 2nd from 1–3 pm on the Oval to learn more and for a chance to win free merchandise!
Next, we are excited to reveal a project that’s been several months in the making:
Since the beginning of last fall, we’ve been surveying UM students to better understand their barriers to nutrition. Overwhelmingly, they’ve told us that Cost & Time are the two biggest barriers to meeting their nutritional needs; food literacy, cooking competency, transportation, and dietary restrictions were also cited as significant barriers.
Earlier this year, we received a grant from by the Montana Food Bank Network to produce a Pantry-inspired cookbook, and we are excited to announce the near-completion of that project! This cookbook will be specifically tailored to our customers, relying primarily on ingredients found in the UM Pantry, with the goal of reducing cost, time, and other barriers to nutrition.
We expect to have hard copies available for distribution in the Pantry by the end of the school year, so stay tuned!
One more VERY IMPORTANT thing before we go…
We are currently hiring a new Pantry Coordinator! The Pantry Coordinator manages day-to-day operations at the UM Food Pantry, including assisting customers, stocking shelves and satellite distribution points, overseeing food drives and conducting outreach. This position is 15–20 hours per week with more flexibility over the summer.
The Pantry is accepting applications for this position NOW through April 20th. Visit Handshake.com to view the full job description & apply!
