The Sustainable Food Initiative (SFI) is a club started with the intent of opening students up to examining where their food comes from and to battle the food insecurity on campus. Their constitution states:
“So much of our world’s current food system perpetuates injustice — towards farmers, neighbors, consumers, and the environment. Taking food into our own hands, literally, gives us agency to create a more just link between the food we eat and the effects that we have on the world.”
In light of their constitution, SFI worked diligently this past fall alongside the food insecurity committee and facilities management to move their non-perishable and frozen meal operation to a more accessible area. After looking all over campus, they found the perfect space to move into: room 100 of the Amon Heatwole House.
On Monday Jan. 24, the Sustainable Food Initiative (SFI) invited students to check out their expanded free food operation.
The basement of the Amon Heatwole House has been SFI’s home base for many years. As the food pantry required a new space, the club was able to find an available room on the floor above. What was once a rarely-used graduate student lounge will now hold food for those in need to come and get at any time.
First-year Evan Kaufman, a SFI member who attended the event said, “We’re really excited about this new room because it will give us the opportunity to reach out to EMUs campus at all times of the day.” This perfect chamber has outdoor access, plenty of space for shelves and freezers, and is in an inconspicuous, easily accessed area.
Opening this new food pantry is big news not only for SFI but also for the general EMU community. Having a space to help students in need that is open 24/7 connects the EMU community in beneficial ways. “Creating a community that cares for one another is really important,” says Park Woods Resident Director Tibby Miller. Her love for food justice and sustainability comes from her work with food pantries in Denver, CO. Miller was involved in the process of finding the new room through her experience and helped to confirm that room 100 was the perfect place.
SFI’s new upstairs neighbors include David Brubaker, Dean of School of Social Sciences and Professions, and Shirley Ewald, Administrative Assistant to the School of Social Sciences and Professions.
When asked what he thought of his new neighbors Brubaker said, “We are delighted to be able to share the space, and we think it will allow your program to be more successful.” Brubaker has had a little contact with SFI over the years but hopes that with the upstairs move he can become more connected with what they do here on campus.
With this expansion, SFI will have the resources to utilize their basement space to tackle more food justice related projects. Junior Conrad Nyce, another club member says, “The Sustainable Food Initiative club has always been committed towards improving the campus and the campuses outreach in various missions of supporting the community. The new room we just acquired is nothing more than an extension of these stated objectives. It will give us more facilities and resources to do what we want.”
