ASUP to fund StockUP over winter break

Around the country, around 42 million people suffering from food insecurity were withheld benefits.

In response to these pauses on benefits, the Associated Students of the University of Portland (ASUP) signed a bill into legislation on Nov. 24 to fund StockUP following the Thanksgiving break.

Senator Max Hanley proposed the bill to allocate $750 of ASUP’s discretionary fund to support StockUP through the holiday season. 

For him, the government shutdown elucidated communities’ reliance upon resource banks, such as the StockUP food pantry. 

“After the government shutdown, it became immediately apparent to me the importance of providing resources for people dealing with food insecurity,” Hanley said. “With the food stamp cuts and the rising cost of living, having a resource on campus where people can get food felt really important to me.”

Seeing as ASUP had leftover funding nearing the end of the semester, Hanley approached lead StockUP coordinator Ali Dunham with the proposal. ASUP is one of StockUP’s major sponsors, along with Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (STAT).

Hanley proposed that ASUP support StockUP given that resources for food security are especially pertinent in a time of minimal government assistance. 

“This is a tough month to not receive your grocery funding during the holiday season,” Dunham said. 

To maintain a regular supply of food for students who use the pantry, Dunham spends around $1,000 per month on groceries. Due to campus closure for half of December, Dunham expects that ASUP’s allocation will last into the new year.

The StockUP pantry has weekly walk-in hours and is available to students by appointment. It will remain open during the week of Dec. 15 for students in need of food supply during winter break.

Dunham emphasises the importance of providing students who are experiencing food insecurity with resources on and off campus. This mission inspired her to start a Thanksgiving bag project.

Prior to Thanksgiving week, Dunham took action in creating gift bags with holiday food items to hand out to students who are currently on StockUP's email chain. Alternatively, they could apply for a food voucher from Bon Appetite who partnered with Dunham to provide free meals to students in need during the Thanksgiving break.

Prior to 2024, StockUP was housed under the university’s DEI department and was located in a house on Willamette Boulevard, according to Dunham. 

“It was a pop-up style program, so once per month students, staff and faculty could bring a bag and go get the food they needed,” Dunham said.

Due to staff shortages and disorganization of the program, it went on hiatus before being redesigned under the Care Team with a permanent pantry in Orrico Hall, according to Dunham.

“This way we can support students more holistically as a permanent resource that they can count on,” Dunham said. 

While the pantry is open to all students who need to make ends meet, there are still limits to maintaining StockUP as a sustainable resource.

“I try to let students know that our resource is not meant to replace grocery shopping,” Dunham said. “It’s meant to be a pantry for students who are experiencing hardships to make ends meet.” 

There is a limit on students to one visit to the StockUP pantry per week.

StockUP has a feedback questionnaire which students may fill out so that the organization can gather accurate data on student needs.

As federal funding begins to replenish, and organizations like ASUP and STAT continue to support StockUP, there is a brighter outlook for providing students with the resources they need.

“[ASUP’s] main purpose is to serve the student body, and I think it is important to level the playing field,” Hanley said. “You can’t be expected to be successful in college if you’re hungry. ”

Clara Pehling is a news reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at pehling28@up.edu.