food pantry closes to the public

Joseph Sky Martin carries a bag of grapes Wednesday while leaving the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belknap and Courtland. Martin said he uses the pantry to help support his family of four, however, the pantry will serve only students and staff at this college beginning next week, from noon-4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday.

History sophomore Angela Henry grabs cans off the shelves while social work sophomore Brent Walker moves boxes Wednesday at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center. "I felt kinda naive because I didn't know it was here," Henry said on her first day volunteering. "Everyone is so friendly that it makes me want to do more."

Economics Professor Susan Spencer, coordinator of the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry, reacts Wednesday to the surplus of canned food available in the pantry, located in the basement of the Catholic Student Center on Belknap and Courtland. The pantry recently won $5,000 in a Pepsi Challenge and were able to buy new appliances and food. The pantry will be closing to the public for reasons declined mention by Spencer.

Volunteer Carla Calderon carries food Wednesday while volunteering at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belknap and Courtland. "You can't come here and just leave, because it's so rewarding for everyone," said Calderon, who has been volunteering at various food pantrys since 1989.

Education sophomore Richele Brooks looks for a recipient's file Wednesday while volunteering at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belnap and Courtland. "I don't like having to tell people that we can't help them anymore," Brooks said of the new policy requiring that only students and staff at the college may use the pantry. Thousands of files will be discarded, she said.

Kysean Ferreira, 3, waits to pick out a toy with volunteer Carla Calderon Wednesday inside the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry in the basement of the Catholic Student Center at Belknap and Courtland.

Volunteer Carla Calderon apologizes to an unidentified man Wednesday at the Phi Theta Kappa food pantry because the pantry is unable to serve the public beginning next week. "It's upsetting because (the pantry) helped alot," the man said.

All photos copyright protected by The Ranger/Tyler K. Cleveland