Early Bird

There’s no better time to support the Roadrunner Food Pantry and Student Emergency Fund

With many students facing economic and food insecurity, the campus community is encouraged to be generous and proactive.

By Lindsey Coulter

March 16, 2020

The Roadrunner Food Pantry is one of Metropolitan State University of Denver’s first lines of defense in fighting food insecurity, especially as the campus prepares for the potential impacts of COVID-19.

The pantry is available to MSU Denver students and provides nutritious snacks and pantry items for meal preparation. The Roadrunner Food Pantry plans to remain open as classes move to remote delivery, but Erica Quintana-Garcia, interim director of the Student Care Center, noted it is becoming more difficult to stock the shelves.

“Right now, monetary donations are the most valuable things for the Roadrunner Food Pantry,” Quintana-Garcia said. “If a student is in need of food and cannot come to campus while still practicing social distancing, we can email them a gift card to their local grocery store.”

Quintana-Garcia added that the Student Emergency Fund has also seen an increase in support requests. The fund provides emergency stipends for MSU Denver students who are dealing with unanticipated and/or catastrophic life events that might otherwise cause them to stop or pause their pursuit of educational goals. Quintana-Garcia said many students are anxious about their reduced ability to work, pay bills or access food as the COVID-19 situation in metro Denver continues to intensify.

Please visit the Roadrunner Food Pantry and Student Emergency Fund websites to donate today.

These vital services are sponsored by Student Engagement and Wellness, the Student Government Assembly and the MSU Denver community. The Roadrunner Food Pantry is an agency partner of Food Bank of the Rockies.