File photo \/ Mabel Cruz<\/a><\/p>\nAndres Morales, Student Government vice president, knows the struggles of food insecurity all too well. <\/p>\n
\u201c14.4 million children across America suffer from food insecurity, and I was one of those 14.4 alongside my brothers,\u201d Morales said. <\/p>\n
This led him to pioneer the Student Government initiative, \u201cFill the Pantry, Fill the Heart,\u201d alongside seven departments and three Greek organizations. <\/p>\n
\u201cI did it just to try to help people during the holidays, and with the unfortunate luck of the government shutdown, that reality started settling in to a lot of people across the nation, especially our Mavericks here,\u201d Morales said. <\/p>\n
\u201cFill the Pantry, Fill the Heart\u201d is a nonperishable food drive addressing food insecurity within the Maverick community during the holiday season, according to previous Shorthorn reporting. <\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are always wondering how they\u2019re going to feed themselves or feed their children year-round, and Mavericks shouldn’t worry about where their next meal is gonna come from,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Due to a surplus of donations and increased usage, the food drive was extended to Nov. 24, and Mavericks can visit the pantry twice during November. <\/p>\n
Michelle Kelly, assistant vice president of health and well-being, said access to food is critical. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to know that you feel stable in your basic needs to then be able to one, have the energy to be able to put in the work you need for school work, but also that motivation,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
With the holidays around the corner and students, faculty and staff still feeling the effects of the government shutdown, the initiative is aimed at relieving some of that stress. <\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe someone’s lacking in, let’s say, yams or canned cranberry and they need help,\u201d Morales said. \u201cThey can go to the pantry.\u201d <\/p>\n
Courtney Liang, UTA\u2019s emergency assistance coordinator, said seeing the outreach and support of the initiative has been amazing. <\/p>\n
\u201cI truly did not expect this high volume of support, and how everyone is so eager to chip in and do their part in making sure that no Maverick goes hungry,\u201d Liang said. <\/p>\n
Liang credited the true kickoff of the initiative to UTA president Jennifer Cowley. When Morales informed Cowley of his plans, she challenged all the departments to donate at least 100 pounds of food. <\/p>\n
On Friday, the amount donated reached over 1,400 items, and the number is steadily growing, Morales said. <\/p>\n
The pantry hours will see some adjustments during the holidays. The facility will be closed Nov. 26-28 and reopen on Dec. 2-3, and close again Dec. 4- Jan. 12, according to the pantry\u2019s website. <\/p>\n
Morales encouraged students to visit the pocket pantries across campus, which house items such as popcorn, ramen, breakfast drinks and gummies. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no shame in the game of going to the Maverick food pantry if you need help,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
@ tay._.sansom<\/p>\n
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