Dean of Students Office continues to maintain UHCL food pantry post-Harvey

A year after Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, the Dean of Students Office (DOS) is continuing to maintain a food pantry that is assessable to members of the UHCL community. When the campus reopened after the hurricane, offices and organizations at the University of Houston-Clear Lake (UHCL) collaborated together for the Hawks Helping Hawks program, which sought out donations and volunteers for relief efforts.

“The current food pantry is a product of the immediate response to identify, collect, and provide resources to students affected by Hurricane Harvey,” said David Rachita, dean of students. “After the distribution period ended, the DOS Office made the decision to continue a small, limited food pantry which members of the UHCL community could access full time.”

Initially, the distribution period lasted from after UHCL reopened Sept. 5, 2017 until the end of the fall 2017 semester. Rachita said the DOS Office decided to make the pantry permanent towards the end of the semester.

 “The pantry is located in the DOS Office, out of the way and private,” Rachita said. “[Anyone wanting to use the pantry] would simply come to our office and either ask to use the pantry, or ask to see a staff person to ask for access to the pantry.  It’s very easy and no questions are asked.”

UHCL students, faculty and staff can access the pantry without needing to sign in, but will be asked to fill out an anonymous survey in order for the DOS Office to track usage and types of items selected or requested.

“As time and space allows, we are interested in researching grants and community resources which would aid in keeping the pantry full,” Rachita said.

Prior to the DOS Office’s food pantry, the Office of Veteran Services established one in 2014 that was accessible to any veteran student in need.

“[The pantry] relied solely on donations and primarily consisted of nonperishable and canned items,” said Jay Hernandez, coordinator of the Office of Veteran Services. “Unfortunately it was discontinued early in the spring [2018] semester due to a lack of space and duplication of efforts with the Dean of Student’s office. Any donations that our office receives now are forwarded to the Dean’s office.

The DOS Office’s food pantry consists of canned goods, personal hygiene items and school supplies. Additionally, the office does not collect or distribute clothing.

“We are always accepting donations,” Rachita said. “On-going needs include non-perishables, canned goods (stews, chili, tuna, vegetables, etc.), male and female specific hygiene products, and school supplies. Those can be dropped off at the Dean of Students Office.”

The DOS Office is located in the Student Services Classroom Building, 1.201. For more information on the DOS Office, head to www.uhcl.edu/dos.

Also published on Medium.