February 27, 2023

VINCENNES, Ind. - Vincennes University student-athlete Daylynn Thornton is always looking for ways to support her fellow college students.

So, when the Kinesiology and Sport major won a national contest and was among 19 randomly-selected college students chosen to have a $500 donation made in their name to support an organization dedicated to fighting hunger and food education, Thornton picked Sandy’s Pantry. It provides VU students with free non-perishable food and personal care products in a friendly and supportive way.

“Sandy’s Pantry helps a lot of students, and it’s a really good community,” said Thornton, a women’s basketball player from Lafayette, Indiana. “I know someone personally who struggles with getting food, so I recommended Sandy’s Pantry to them, and they really loved it a lot because they had a good variety of stuff they liked. It’s a really good cause for students. I want every student to be able to go to sleep on a full belly and not have to worry where they are going to get their next meal while trying to study for classes. I tell students they can even donate if they have it.”

For many years, the VU family has collected thousands of non-perishable food items and donated thousands of dollars to support the efforts of Sandy’s Pantry in assisting VU students who may be food challenged. Demand for food banks has risen due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rising prices for food and everyday items.

The pantry is a partnership between VU and St. John’s United Church of Christ. It provides VU students with free non-perishable food and additional products several times monthly in a judgement-free environment. Any student with a valid VU ID has access to the pantry, which is located at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 606 N. 5th St.

Sandy’s Pantry has also had a major re-stock recently courtesy of a Spring Semester Food Drive held on the Vincennes Campus. VU faculty, staff, and students took part in the friendly food drive competition and collected nearly $1,000 in cash donations in addition to 510 food items.

For the second straight year, the College of Humanities took home bragging rights for collecting the most donations along with a traveling trophy made out of canned goods.

According to College of Humanities Dean Joan Puckett, “Connecting all students to needed resources and supporting them in every way possible to help them reach their goals is a deeply held value within the College of Humanities and across Vincennes University. Coming together as a caring community helps to provide food security, especially in the face of rising food costs. The College of Humanities is humbled by our students' needs, and we are grateful that we are in a position to support students so that they can thrive physically, mentally, and academically.”

The remaining Spring 2023 dates for Sandy’s Pantry are March 2, March 28, March 30, April 25, and April 27. Due to severe wind and continuous power outages at St. John's United Church of Christ, Sandy's Pantry will not be open on February 28. The pantry is available via phone at 812-882-2720.

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