DUNMORE, Pa. — Imagine being a college student, working hard to earn a degree and facing a choice no one should have to make: Buy textbooks or buy groceries. For many students at Penn State Scranton, that is the reality. This GivingTuesday, the campus is asking its community to come together and donate to help ensure no student goes hungry.
The urgent need
Since 2013, the campus food pantry has been a lifeline for students in need, stocked with essentials like rice, pasta, canned soups, tuna, peanut butter, and sometimes fresh fruit and bread. It operates on a no-question-asked basis to help students overcome stigma and focus on their education.
But this year, shelves are nearly bare.
Last year, the pantry distributed approximately 100 totes of food thanks to biweekly deliveries from partners. However, those deliveries have stopped due to funding shortages, which have left students vulnerable at a time when food insecurity affects nearly one in four college students nationwide.
Your gift, doubled
To make every dollar count, Penn State Scranton Alumni Society President Sean Wolfe will match gifts dollar for dollar up to $500. That means your generosity will go twice as far in helping students thrive and support our vision of a hunger-free campus.
Here’s what your gift can do:
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$5: Provides a week’s worth of breakfast items like cereal or oatmeal for one student
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$10: Supplies a variety of canned goods, such as soups or tuna, to feed a student for several meals
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$25: Supplies shelf-stable essentials like rice, pasta, and peanut butter for multiple students
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$50: Enables the pantry to offer fresh items like apples or bread, adding vital nutrition for students
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$100: Funds a typical biweekly delivery of seven to nine totes, providing grab-and-go snacks and meals for dozens of students.
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$500: Supports a full month’s worth of pantry restocking, ensuring consistent access to food for all students in need.
About GivingTuesday at Penn State
GivingTuesday at Penn State is an annual celebration where alumni, friends, fans, faculty, staff and students unite to support programs and people across the University. Any gift, no matter the size, makes a difference.
The day of giving will honor Penn State’s founding year with an early kickoff on Dec. 1 at 18:55 (6:55 p.m. ET) and conclude at midnight on Dec. 2. Gifts can be made easily and securely online, and the site accepts all major credit cards. Those who prefer to give by phone can call 1-888-800-9163 on GivingTuesday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET.
Donate today to restock the campus’ food pantry and bring our vision of hunger-free campus to life.