The Cherry Pantry at the Hub is partnering with Philabundance to distribute turkeys and chickens on campus, helping ensure students can enjoy a full holiday meal.
The Cherry Pantry at the Essential Needs Hub is holding a Thanksgiving food drive to ensure that every student can enjoy a full meal during the holiday.
Photo by Betsy Manning
Across the country, Americans are preparing to purchase their turkeys, set their tables and gather with loved ones for Thanksgiving dinner.
At Temple, the Cherry Pantry at the Essential Needs Hub is holding a food drive to ensure that every student can enjoy a full holiday meal.
This month, the pantry is partnering with Philabundance to distribute turkeys and chickens to students in need. Members of the university community can contribute by ordering through the Thanksgiving Amazon Wishlist or by bringing items directly to the Essential Needs Hub in the lower level of the Howard Gittis Student Center by Nov. 17. On Nov. 19, the Hub will share the food with students.
“Through our partnership with Philabundance and the generosity of the Temple community, we are helping students and their families enjoy the holiday while reminding them that they have a community supporting them throughout the year,” said Jodi Bailey Accavallo, vice president for student affairs.
The Hub brings together food, housing assistance, emergency resources and other services in one location and is designed to make seeking support easier while ensuring students are treated with dignity and respect.
“At Temple, we intentionally use the term essential needs. Access to food, housing and other resources is fundamental to a student’s ability to learn, thrive and achieve what they came here to accomplish,” said Bailey Accavallo. “We created the Essential Needs Hub to be more than a place to access resources. It’s a welcoming environment where students can ask for help and know they will be met with care.”
At its new location inside of the Hub, the Cherry Pantry has expanded to 3,000 square feet. Providing free access to nutritious food and personal care products, the pantry has additional room for food storage, allowing for more frequent deliveries and a consistent supply of fresh produce.
Partnerships with organizations such as Philabundance, Sharing Excess and the Carversville Farm Foundation have strengthened the Hub’s food security work.
“While the Thanksgiving food drive provides additional support during the holiday season, the Essential Needs Hub serves students throughout the academic year,” said Bailey Accavallo. “By connecting students with various services, Temple is helping them navigate challenges that might otherwise interfere with their education.”
