Iowa public universities handle increased need from students facing food insecurity

A half hour before Iowa State University’s food pantry was ready to open, a small group of students had already gathered outside, ready to pick up groceries and other necessities. Doctoral candidate Mobina Amrollahi worked on her laptop in the hallway. She was hoping to get tofu and canned goods from The SHOP as a supplement to the groceries she buys. Frederick Osei, also a doctoral candidate, wanted to grab protein and spaghetti if he could. SHOP Co-president Sarah Schroeder said lines aren’t an unusual sight, and the pantry’s size doesn’t help. On days when students know the pantry has been restocked, they’ll see hundreds come through in a couple of hours.