Northwestern IT Gives Back: Purple Pantry

Let's get a head start on summer celebrations together, Northwestern IT! Join us on June 5 for a fun-filled afternoon of socializing with your colleagues. We’ll double the good vibes through group service that helps fulfill Northwestern students’ essential needs. We’re contributing to Purple Pantry to support students facing food insecurity. Meet us near the patio at 1800 Sherman at 2 p.m. Drop off a donation and enjoy a mid-week afternoon pick-me-up in the form of a sweet frozen treat and warm, casual connection with staff across the department.

Leading this effort is Kate Leach, coordinator of special events, who joined Northwestern IT in 2023 and has led more department events than she can count in just over a year. On June 5, she is hosting this first Northwestern IT Gives Back event, planned to merge a hyper-local service effort with a chance for our staff to enjoy a double summer kick-off treat: time to engage and socialize with colleagues and enjoy a frozen sweet in the sunshine.

All staff are welcome and encouraged to participate in the event. Anyone unable to attend the celebration who wants to contribute can bring non-perishable food and essential care donations to bins in the entryway lobby at  2020 Ridge, inside 1800 Sherman, Suite 1400, and the Teaching and Learning Technologies and Research Computing and Data Services office entryways. We will collect the bins at noon on June 5. Additionally, if you’d like to drop off cash or gift cards beforehand, please contact Kate Leech.

Learn About Purple Pantry

Purple Pantry is an on-campus resource providing food, snacks, and sometimes personal care and household cleaning items to students who don’t have a consistent way to obtain these items otherwise. The pantry is sustained entirely through donations and has no formal University budget. While the pantry is typically not stocked at a capacity to be able to serve as a student’s sole source for groceries and essential items, it regularly provides a critical supplement for many students.

The pantry is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Thursday, and students do not need to make an appointment or complete any registration upon arrival. Purple Pantry is designed to be as barrier-free as possible. The resource is available to Northwestern students enrolled at all schools on the Evanston and Chicago campuses, regardless of whether they reside on or off campus. The pantry strives to accommodate individuals with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, and halal dietary needs.

The resource is run by Stacey Brown, director of dining, and her staff in the Division of Student Affairs. Last year, Student Affairs reported to Northwestern Now that “third-year undergraduates and first-year international graduate students are the most frequent pantry users.” Brown explained that students experience food insecurity in various circumstances, including third-year students living off campus for the first time and struggling with managing meals and living expenses and international graduate students who don’t qualify for programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Students living on campus during the academic year and those on campus for sports or other commitments during the summer who don’t have adequate dining hall meal plans also rely on Purple Pantry.

What’s Most Needed

We are collecting non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, jarred sauces, grains, canned goods (beans, vegetables, soups, and fish, etc.), nut butter, jelly, breakfast and snack bars, and Ramen noodles. Non-food items like soap, toothpaste, body wash, shampoo, feminine hygiene, and household cleaning items are also greatly appreciated. Cash and gift card donations are also accepted. The team responsible for planning the event will use the funds raised to purchase and deliver additional food in bulk.

Beyond our coordinated event this June, donations to Purple Pantry are welcome year-round. They can be dropped off at the 1835 Hinman dining hall during pantry hours, Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you have any questions about continuing to support Purple Pantry, email them to purplepantry@northwestern.edu.