Campus Connection

TIAA effort to benefit UWL Food Pantry

UW-La Crosse has been selected as one of 44 college campuses to benefit from a nationwide virtual food drive.

TIAA, Nuveen and TIAA Bank are conducting the nationwide effort to address the 30 percent of students who are food insecure on campuses across the U.S. UWL is the only college in Wisconsin in the drive.

Kelsi Grubisich, civic engagement and leadership coordinator in UWL’s University Centers, expects this virtual drive to complement the continued support the UWL Food Pantry has received — and hopes it draws participants from throughout the country.

“We have had some very successful food drives and we hope to continue with that success,” she says. “By the campus and community donating to this drive, it will bring a variety of different items available to our pantry.” 

Grubisich says there is an average of 400 swipes of student and employee IDs into the food pantry each month school is in session. Open to faculty, staff and students, the pantry in the Student Union is available to those who complete an information form to gain pantry access.

Items purchased through the online drive will arrive in one shipment when the drive is completed March 14. “We hope to collect enough items for the pantry that will help us get to the end of the academic year,” says Grubisich.    

A group of items to purchase in the drive begins at $9.99. Any donations of $25 or more can be matched. To participate in the virtual food drive.

Grubisich says donations — food items or cash — are always accepted for the pantry at the COVE — the Center for Organizations, Vision and Engagement — in 2200 Student Union.