During the month of February, the Honors Program at Portland State will be hosting their first annual food drive to help combat the effects of student hunger in higher education.
The program hopes to raise a minimum of 500 food items, preferably canned or nonperishable, by Feb. 28 and are counting on the students of the Honors Program and the PSU community to help reach their goal. They’re also accepting non-food items like toothpaste, deodorant and other basic amenities.
Kathleen Steppe, who volunteered at the food pantry for almost a year before becoming its coordinator believes that student hunger is a pressing issue faced by many PSU students.
She says that many people don’t know where they’re going to get their next meal, and that this is a tremendous problem that is greater than people realize.
Steppe has worked in conjunction with fellow Honors Program students Cardin Le and Melinda Cohoon, in addition to support from the program leadership and faculty to help ensure the success of the drive and to raise awareness about student hunger.
“Nothing ever happens singularly,” Steppe said. “They’ve been on board since the beginning to work collectively for the good of the community.”
Le, who is a freshman business major, hopes to end the stigma attached to getting food from the food pantry.
“We want to let the community know that the Honors Program supports the food pantry,” he said.
Students interested in aiding the Honors Program’s efforts can bring donations directly to the Honors Building, located on 1632 S.W. 12th Ave. Larger donations can be picked up from homes or offices. For more information contact Steppe by email at kathleen.steppe@pdx.edu.