The McNeese Alumni Association is hosting its inaugural “Pack the Pantries” Food Drive Saturday to support students in need of food and personal care items. 

Community members can donate nonperishable foods and hygiene products by dropping them off from 9 a.m. to noon at the Alumni Association drive-through at 600 E. McNeese St. 

Goods donated will fill food pantries in Gayle Hall, Kaufman Hall and in the New Ranch.

Suggested donation items include canned foods, ramen noodles, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, rice, cereal, prepackaged snacks, saltine crackers, bottled water, granola bars and personal care products. Donors will also have the opportunity to enter a prize drawing for a custom Yeti with McNeese gear. 

Dr. Michael Buckles, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said the drive will help meet student needs along with continued support from past corporate donor Amerisafe. 

“We intend to serve the needs of our majors within our college, which represents approximately 1,000 students, augmenting what our university and nearby faith-based organizations offer,” Buckles said. “We see a great need, so having this additional service for our students will not glut what is already here. To the contrary, having this College of Liberal Arts food bank will not be enough to meet every single need, but Amerisafe’s participation will certainly help us move in that direction.”  

Amerisafe Inc., a DeRidder-based workers’ compensation insurance company, partnered with McNeese to help launch and support the campus food pantry last year and has supported it with a donation again this year. 

The College of Liberal Arts food pantry, which opened in spring 2024 with donations from the Department of Visual Arts and Amerisafe, has served more than 300 students and distributed more than 1,000 individual food items, according to Amy Veuleman, assistant professor in the department of mass communication. The pantry is available to both undergraduate and graduate students and allows visitors to select up to 10 items per visit. 

Veuleman said she hopes the food drive will help restock the pantries. 

“Currently, the national conversation has included the issue of food insecurity, and our campus is not immune to this issue,” Veuleman said. “We know our community will come together to serve the needs of our students. We hope to ensure no student goes to class hungry through the service our partners provide.” 

Veuleman said she was grateful to the Alumni Association for hosting the event.