Fresno Campus Launches Student Pantry to Address Food Insecurity

On January 22, 2025, Samuel Merritt University’s Fresno campus unveiled its SMU Fresno – Student Pantry, designed to support students facing food insecurity. The pantry provides access to essential food items, hygiene products, and more, with the goal of improving student wellbeing and fostering a more successful academic experience.

Addressing a Growing Need

Food insecurity among college students is a pressing issue, with nearly one-third of students expressing concern about having enough affordable, nutritious food. At SMU, the food pantries on all four campuses aim to alleviate this issue by providing students with free access to healthy and nourishing options that support their health and academic success.

How the SMU Fresno – Student Pantry Works

The Fresno campus pantry operates Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access to the secure pantry is available by contacting Fresno’s Assistant Dean of Students Judy Gutierrez or the campus administrative assistant. Available items include canned goods, fruit, rice, pasta, drinks, and hygiene products for both adults and babies. Students can also support the pantry by donating goods or volunteering their time.

To ensure the pantry meets students’ needs, a QR code is provided for students to share feedback.

The Impact on Student Wellbeing

Addressing food insecurity is vital to student success, as it can directly affect academic performance, mental and physical health, and overall quality of life. The SMU Fresno – Student Pantry along with its sibling pantries, hopes to reduce the stigma associated with food insecurity while creating an environment where students can thrive. By promoting food security, the pantry aims to ensure that students have stable access to nutritious food, allowing them to focus on their studies and improve their overall wellbeing.

Pantries on Other SMU Campuses

The Fresno campus is one of four campuses offering food pantry services. Here’s a quick look at the other locations:

Oakland Campus: Oakland pantry operates Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 3 p.m., and is run in partnership with the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Roni Wallace is the contact for this location.

Sacramento Campus: Sacramento pantry operates Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Robyn Heise is the contact for this location.

San Francisco Peninsula Campus (SFPC):  SFPC pantry operates Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Vanessa Beltran-Solano is the contact.

Each pantry operates with a similar model, offering shelf-stable food items such as grains, cereals, canned fruit and vegetables, and personal care items like body wash, toothpaste, and deodorant.

How to Help

Students, faculty, staff, and community members can contribute to the food pantries by donating non-perishable items or volunteering their time. For more information, reach out to the campus contacts listed above. Donations can be dropped off at any of the campus locations, and students interested in volunteering can contact the pantry coordinators.

For more information about the SMU Student Pantries visit the Student Affairs Website.