 Post contributed by Katia Zogg, SNDA Public Policy Committee Leader In March 2017, the Associated Students (AS) of San Francisco State University started the AS Food Pantry in partnership with SF-Marin Food Bank in order to combat food insecurity among SF State students. The Food Pantry is open every Monday during the academic year from 12:30pm-3:00pm at the Student Life Events Center (Annex 1) and they provide a weeks worth of food to eligible students. Items include 6-10 fresh produce items, 1 grain item, and 1 protein item. Additionally, during the Fall 2018 semester, the Associated Students launched the Food Cupboard, which provides canned and dried goods to eligible students. The Food Cupboard is open every Wednesday and Thursday during the academic year from 1:00pm-7:00pm at the Pyramid next to Jack Adams Hall, Cesar Chavez Student Center. Collectively, the Food Pantry and Food Cupboard are known as Gator Groceries. For more information, please visit: http://asi.sfsu.edu/gator-groceries/. I interviewed Alison Li about her experiences as a volunteer and employee at the AS Food Pantry. Katia: When did you start at the Food Pantry? Alison: I needed to find volunteer work for one of my classes and heard about the Food Pantry when it launched in Spring 2017. I have stayed on as a volunteer every semester since then and am now an employee. Katia: What do your job duties include? Alison: I help set-up and break-down the Food Pantry, restock items as needed, and pass out food items to the students. Katia: How many students participate? Alison: When the program initially started the cap was for about 100 students. Now the cap has expanded to around 300 students. Katia: How can SF State students apply? Alison: Students can visit http://asi.sfsu.edu/gator-groceries/ to apply. The application is free and open to all SF State students and it is for both the Food Pantry and the Food Cupboard. Katia: How can students volunteer and get involved? Alison: Students interested in volunteering can go online to sign-up for volunteer times (http://asi.sfsu.edu/gator-groceries/).  Alison and Katia
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