MERCY IN ACTION :
Catherine ’ s Cupboard
By : Lauren Yancer
Food insecurity is a growing concern nationwide , especially on college campuses . In fact , according to a Fall 2020 GMercyU campus survey , 36.4 % of the sample population expressed concerns regarding food and / or housing insecurity .
In true Mercy fashion , Catherine ’ s Cupboard aims to combat the issue head-on .
Founded in 2016 , Catherine ’ s Cupboard is GMercyU ’ s own food pantry , now located at Tabor House on the Gwynedd Valley campus . It started out as a small initiative with shelves of non-perishable food items in the back of Visitation House . Now , Catherine ’ s Cupboard is serving as a model program for how college campuses can meet the needs of their students .
“ Catherine ’ s Cupboard is a direct expression of GMercyU ’ s identity as a Catholic university rooted in the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy . It ‘ makes mercy real ’ not only by providing students with basic needs such as food , home supplies , and connections to other social organizations in the area , but also by listening to students as they share their needs with us . I am proud of how the Cupboard has expanded and am hopeful that our community sees the work that it does as a vital and integral part of our campus life ,” Jeff Wallace , Director of Campus Ministry . on Main Street is the main partner in operations of Catherine ’ s Cupboard . GMercyU partnered with them to enable students to be enrolled as Manna clientele regardless of living outside of the normal boundaries .
Garden of Health , a non-profit organization founded by GMercyU alumna Carol Bauer ‘ 93 , is another partner of Catherine ’ s Cupboard . At the end of summer 2021 , Garden of Health provided fresh produce to Catherine ’ s Cupboard and has been supplying more products that are organic , non-allergenic , contain lower sodium and sugar , and are gluten free . Another organization called Lasagna Love provides homemade lasagnas to Catherine ’ s Cupboard for students to take home to their families .
In addition to food items , Catherine ’ s Cupboard offers students toiletry and household items , including diapers and sanitary pads donated by Mitzvah Circle .
Engaging with the Community Catherine ’ s Cupboard isn ’ t just helping the GMercyU community , it is collaborating with other organizations across Montgomery County as a core member of the College Student Basic Needs Consortium ( CBSN ). Manna
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry for Community Service Betsy Stone Plummer unpacks pantry donations .
10 PRESIDENT ’ S REPORT