'pete’s Pantry Saved Me' – Osu-tulsa’s Food Pantry Provides Crucial Service For Students

Friday, April 4, 2025

Media Contact: Aaron Campbell | OSU-Tulsa Communications Coordinator | 918-594-8046 | aaron.ross.campbell@okstate.edu

All OSU-Tulsa students are present to study — but really tin you attraction connected assignments when choosing betwixt state aliases groceries this week? How do you study for a trial connected an empty stomach, knowing you’ll still beryllium quiet erstwhile you return it?

Food insecurity is simply a devastating reality for galore successful nan Tulsa area, including OSU-Tulsa students. That’s wherever Pete’s Pantry steps in.

Pete’s Pantry, portion of OSU-Tulsa Student Life successful North Hall 103, is simply a nutrient pantry unfastened to immoderate currently enrolled OSU-Tulsa aliases OSU Center for Health Sciences student experiencing nutrient insecurity aliases needing different essentials, specified arsenic hygiene products. Food and different items are available astatine nary costs to qualified students.

"The first clip utilizing Pete's Pantry really saved me," 1 student said. “Until last year, I ne'er thought I would person to cipher buying food. I don’t bargain much. I don’t eat much.”

The student, who asked not to beryllium named, recovered herself relying connected Pete’s Pantry for astir meals aft being deed pinch unexpected aesculapian bills successful November.

Despite moving part-time and getting thief from her family to money her education, she is presently incapable to spend immoderate basal necessities for illustration groceries. She lives paycheck to paycheck, spreading her bills passim nan period to make it work.

“It’s a small spot embarrassing, but I haven’t been to market shop successful months, and it’s not good,” she said. “Never erstwhile successful my life did we person to spell without food. My family doesn’t cognize now location will beryllium nights, aliases days, I spell without food.”

She admits not having entree to caller foods and much macromolecule options has been difficult for her to navigate, but she’s thankful to person nan lifeline that Pete’s Pantry provides.

“Without Pete’s Pantry, I’m not judge really I would supply nutrient for myself each month,” she said. “Sometimes it doesn’t consciousness that good, to trust connected canned nutrient and ramen all nan time. At immoderate point, you get sick of noodles. But it’s capable to support maine surviving, to get backmost to campus, to activity and to study.”

This student is not alone. So acold this semester, students person utilized Pete’s Pantry 24 times, a jump from past semester.

“We can’t fto our students spell to people hungry," said OSU-Tulsa Campus and Community Specialist Glenda Ross, who oversees Pete’s Pantry. "Food is simply a basal need, and no student should person to take betwixt their acquisition and a meal. Our occupation is to help students succeed, and that starts pinch making judge nary 1 successful our field community goes without.”

Pete’s Pantry relies connected donations to support its shelves stocked.

“We are truthful thankful for nan donors who person taken this chance to springiness backmost to our students directly, successful 1 of nan astir important ways,” said Nekki Reagan-Neeley, assistant vice president for organization engagement and student services. “Every can, each box, and each vessel has specified a tremendous effect connected our field community.”

If you would for illustration to donate to Pete’s Pantry, please bring new, unopened, in-date items to North Hall 103 during regular business hours. To make an assignment to shop astatine nan pantry aliases for much information, sojourn nan Pete’s Pantry webpage.