Tech’s Food Pantry Adds Location At Volpe Library

Tennessee Tech has opened an auxiliary location for their food pantry.

Tech’s Service Learning Center assistant director Michelle Huddleston said choosing Volpe Library was easy.

“It’s a very central location that is open nights and weekends and extended hours,” Huddleston said.

The motion for an auxiliary location began Fall 2019 semester when library front desk supervisor Rose Black saw a need for extended access when an employee needed help.

“I just felt like something as basic as something to eat, you can’t study if you’re hungry,” Black said. “You can make it to college, but then a lot of people just fall between the cracks after that and they don’t make for reasons like they don’t have enough to eat. You know, really basic things.”

The Food Pantry opened in 2012 in a closet in Foundation Hall and served five people. Now approximately 40 people are served per week, many who are returning visitors.

The Pantry is not just for students, but for anyone who is in need.

“It’s for students and employees, including third party employees. They can come once a week to grocery shop. They sign up so that we know they are coming. If they come in and have not signed up, we do that for them. This helps us track the amount of food going out each week,” Huddleston said. “Not having to choose between books or groceries makes a difference and is a bigger help than what we sometimes realize.”

Each person picks what they need in accordance to how many people are in their household, Huddleston adds.

The auxiliary Food Pantry is behind the library’s front desk and is open Monday-Friday 8-4:30. It will be open seven days a week during regular semester hours.

For more information visit their website.