Carlos Marin 00:01

And for the first quest- Oh, I'm Carlos Marin. I'm a first year student.

Rosie Najera 00:01

I'm Rosie.

Abigail Valles 00:01

It's 30

Stephanie Alvarez 00:09

I'm Stephanie.

Abigail Valles 00:11

And I'm Abby.

Leah Flen 00:12

Abby. I'm Leah Flen, I'm a basic needs manager at Chico State. I manage the day to day operations of the food pantry,
and also outreach in programming around food and housing insecurity.

Carlos Marin 00:29

And for the first question we have: Does the Wildcat pantry impact students who live off campus as well as those who
live on campus?

Leah Flen 00:36

Yes, so the wild cat food pantry is open to all students, staff, faculty and even alumni of the university can access the
pantry, and so we have students from all walks of life, from on campus, and from off campus, and also after they
graduate, coming back to utilize the pantry. So we do find that a lot of students in the dorms, they still come, but if you
have a dorm where you have no kitchen, then you might not come as often right versus students off campus and older
students come a little bit more often.

Carlos Marin 01:18

And for the second question about which group of ethnic students do you guys cater to the most?

Leah Flen 01:26

Which group of ethnic students we cater to the most? I wouldn't say that we cater to any ethnicity, necessarily, we
operate on largely on donations, right. So we have about 50% of our inventory donated from the community. And what
that means is that churches donate, we have grocery stores donate, we have local farmers donate, private individuals will
donate. And it means that my inventory is rotating at all times. So I have nothing that I can tell you that I definitely will
have in stock grade because unlike a grocery store where you order, certain things and you know what's coming. I really
don't know what's coming from day to day. So it's really depending on who donates what and when. as to what we have
in the pantry. We also, we do focus a lot of our attention on fresh fruits and vegetables. So we partner with the
University farm. And that is one area that we do purchase. So we partner with three acres of land the farm, called the
organic vegetable project. And we pay for all of the vegetables that are farmed on those three acres to come into the
pantry, and so we will have seasonal vegetables and we have a large variety, everything from peppers and melons, to
tomatios and onions and pumpkins and apples and, you know, all kinds of different things coming in, so. Yeah.

Carlos Marin 03:09

Thank you, question. Oh, what type of students do you notice stop by the pantry, more often the most?

Leah Flen 03:21

Well we don't take any research or data on the type of student that comes in. When a student comes to the pantry, they
check in using our QR code and ask them their ID number, and their email address, and ask them if they are going to be
sharing their food with friends or family at home. It also asks if they are housing insecure at all. Meaning that either
they're couchsurfing, living in an unsafe environment, and we get a lot of referrals from that for basic needs team that
helps with housing and unhouse students. And then we ask if students are parents, because we have specific items we
want to direct towards parents like diapers and wipes. So I will tell you that since the beginning of the semester we've
had over 2000 student visits. And so that's in about six weeks, right? So, we noticed that our student demographic is
probably students who are, you know, will experience food insecurity. And so it could be that they're on CalFresh or,
you know [they] have more financial aid than other students and they're using utilizing this resource. I also see a lot of
international students. International students cannot get CalFresh, when they're here, they're not eligible. But they can
come into the pantry. [I] do see the range, you know, of ages, ethnicities, that come come through our doors and we do
serve and cater to all students

Carlos Marin 05:08

Thank you. On are an average how many students stopped by the day?

Leah Flen 05:16

Probably between 75 and 100, per day are coming through the doors. And our goal, kind of going back to the last
question, is that we noticed that a lot of about 50% of our students here at Chico State according to some research that
was done in 2019 do report food insecurity, and that means that they don't know where their next meal is coming from.
So our goal is to really address that population of students and to solve, there's no reason that a student should be hungry
on this campus. There's also so much food, about 40% of Americans, 40% of the food that we produce in America goes
in the trash can. So a large part of what we do is trying to "rescue", we call it "rescue", that food and give it to our
hungry students that we know are reporting food security on the campus.

Carlos Marin 06:11

What supplies tend to run out the most?

Leah Flen 06:16

I will say, hygiene products. And I think not a lot of people know that we have hygiene products but we have
toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine products, we have shampoo and so [on]. And because we get less of that donated,
and it's a more pricey item and everybody needs that kind of stuff. It flies off the shelf, quickly. And so that's probably
where we run out the most.

Carlos Marin 06:51

In what way do students benefit from pantry access?

Leah Flen 06:59

In what way do students who access the pantry benefit, maybe?

Carlos Marin 07:08

Can you back me up on that, please?

Abigail Valles 07:11

Yeah, in one way, shape or form do students benefit the most from being able to access pantry?

Leah Flen 07:19

Okay, yeah, so I kind of already touched on that but again, if 50% of the students on this campus are bringing food
insecurity. That means that it might not be you, but the person next to you is hungry, and doesn't know where they're
going to get dinner. And what happens to that student. If the pantry didn't exist, and they didn't have access to free food
is that either they just continue to go hungry or, You know, they're going to maybe take out more student loans or put
food on credit cards and we don't want: one, students going hungry or students taking out unnecessary loans to support
them eating. So students who benefit who access the pantry benefit because they can, you know, fill their tummies, and
research shows that when you're not hungry, you have a full tummy or eating nutritious food, you're also going to do
better in your classes right. So, students who access the pantry are not experiencing food insecurity at such high rates,
and are performing better in their classes and therefore, also we retain them to the university and they'll graduate. So do
you want to pop in here? This is Joe McCarthy He's the director of the basic needs project. So, who's here to fill any
questions.

Carlos Marin 09:01

The next question is do you cater to dietary restrictions like food allergies and lactose intolerance or vegan/vegetarian
options.

Leah Flen 09:10

Yes, so as I said before about 50% of everything we have in the pantry is donated so what we get is largely depends on
what people bring in. But I will say we oftentimes get non dairy sort of items, and we have plenty of fruits and
vegetables, like I mentioned, our partnership with the organic vegetable project. So, any vegetarian or vegan can eat
fruits and vegetables right. And then, that's really where we focus where we spend money, because we believe in giving
students nutritious food. Hi. What are you doing here. Are you like Dan, are you going, or we're gonna go for that tour
the rap. I just got down on the floor. This is the pantry come see me you and you're done. Bye. Sorry. That's my friend I
knew she had an interview, friend. I'm rooting for her she's interviewing for a position. Manager. Anyway, sorry.

Carlos Marin 10:28

And then the next question is what are you-

Leah Flen 10:30

I didn't know that- Did I answer the question? I got stopped in the middle.

Carlos Marin 10:33

Oh- I'm sorry. No,

Leah Flen 10:34

is it do I did I do that, I didn't answer. Okay,

Abigail Valles 10:38

yeah.

Carlos Marin 10:39

And then from the next question, is what are some ways that our students can help support the pantry?

Leah Flen 10:47

I think just getting the word out spreading the word that we exist and that we're a resource. And why don't you tell me,
kind of what you think of having hasn't Have any of you that stepped inside the pantry. Yeah,

Abigail Valles 11:01

I have, I use it. Most of the time.

Leah Flen 11:04

Okay, you used it. What did you think before you came to the pantry, what do you think you're going to find in there.

Abigail Valles 11:09

Um, before I like I knew that the campus had a pantry, I was kind of like worried as to how much I would be spending
like a month buy groceries, stuff like that. Because already my rent is like, 800, a month. And that's with utilities and
everything and my basic minimum wage job here on campus, doesn't cover it for the most part. So, apart from that it's
like, "Ah what am I, like, if I'm spending this much on food, how am I going to spend on my other essentials I gotta
get?" So what I found out about, about the pantry, [okay] that's like one thing less I got to worry about because there are
fresh veggies that I have to eat because like certain medical conditions need me to get my iron, to a certain level. And
then, because I have like certain food allergies, I can't eat certain foods, so I was able to find like different alternatives in
the food pantry that I would have to spend a little bit more money on at a grocery store. So it's like one less waiting for
my academics, so I can fully focus on getting my degree here.
Leah Flen 12:16
Awesme. So yeah, I think, you know, just you sharing that beautiful story with other people is going to help one, let
people know we're here. Two, normalize the use of the pantry, right? Because I think there might be a little bit of stigma
around, accessing food and the pantry. And so, part of what we want to do is normalize it and make students know that
they're welcome right, and that we're here to help, and that it's, you know, available to all students. And that if everyone
starts talking about it and normalizing that that experience, then everyone's going to feel happy about showing up at the
pantry utilizing the resource. So I think as students, just doing that for us is a big part of helping your fellow students be
able to use that resource as well. And then spreading the word on your social media, because we are @HungryWildcats.
And so, you know, say you get a bunch of beautiful photos and you make a beautiful meal, you can say tag
@HungryWildcats, made this wonderful kale lasagna, yeah I don't know. Enchilada dish, thanks @HungryWildcats you
know as part of spreading the word and then applying for CalFresh to and normalizing that CalFresh is a program for
the state of California, where they can give you money for your groceries. And if you the eligibility has expanded since
COVID So a lot of our students are eligible for that program and not applying, but you could get up to $200 for
groceries. So here would be my ideal right. You come to the pantry before you go grocery shopping. Fill up, and then
you see where the gaps are and you use your CalFresh which is on a debit card and you go to the grocery store and you
buy whatever, whatever else you need but now you've spent zero money on food, what would it do for you, if you didn't
have to spend any money, any of your own money on food

Rosie Najera 14:27

It'd be great.

Leah Flen 14:28

It'd be great. Yes, yes, it'd be great, you'd save a lot of money, you'd be able to spend money on other things, save
money, maybe not take out so many student loans, you know, so that would be our ideal and our vision is that you
combine the pantry with also CalFresh, so that food is never in question for you and you don't have to worry about that.

Carlos Marin 14:54

And besides from the questions that we've already asked, is there anything you want to add on to give us more
information about proposal.

Leah Flen 14:59

Yeah, so we are more than just a pantry. That is that what we're known for, but we're actually, the basic needs
department, and so we have three different programs, one is the pantry, which we talked about, and that's what I
manage. But we also have two other programs, one is called our Rapid Rehousing program. And so this is an all our
students know about so if you could spread the word about this being good too. Last, on June 2020 We got a big grant
from the governor. Mind a granr is money, to be able to help students who are experiencing housing insecurity and by
housing insecurity, what do you think I mean there?

Stephanie Alvarez 15:41

Like students are struggling. Like for example, like if they don't have a home.

Leah Flen 15:47

Yes. So traditionally, you might think homeless right. There's also something called Hidden homelessness, and that
might be someone couch surfing, or someone's living in a trailer on somebody's property but it's not really you know,
for living, necessarily, or they're like I'm good I'm living in my van you know I'm all set up. So they might not think I'm
homeless, but really, technically, you know, that would be considered housing insecure, not a safe place to be, not fit for
human habitation or you don't have your own space. So those students can apply through our project, and we have, we
have a house that we can put someone who's in crisis, we have an emergency house you come to me you're like, I don't
know. I don't know what, actually this this happened recently, someone had electrical fire in their room, everything
burned, they have no place to go. So I put them in our emergency house is really cute little house close to campus. So
that's one option we also have short term housing. We have three houses that we place people in for longer term that
have roommates in them, and we help pay the rent for those students. And so there's a lot of different options we can
help students with and place them in housing if they're experiencing housing insecurity. So that's our rapid rehousing.
And the third programs our emergency grant program. So, you have some unexpected thing in your life happened crisis.
It could be any number of things right, could be medical crisis could be a family crisis, something happens and you need
money fast you need it. It's an emergency. You kind of fly through us, and if we'll put you through a couple of things
you got to go to financial aid appointment see a guy do a budget and see if there's, you know, some way we can work
your budget, but if we determine you're a good candidate, then you can get awarded a grant to help you in that crisis. So
that's our third program emergency grants, rapid rehousing, and our wild cat pantry, and that's why we're called basic
needs right. Housing, food, and well, emergencies, water, shelter, clothing, laptops, medical, and a lot of things go under
there. That's our project. I think I'm done.

Carlos Marin 18:23

Thank you so much.

Leah Flen 18:24

You're welcome, did, did that, did you learn something?

Group 18:28
Yeah.

Leah Flen 18:30

Yeah, are you gonna share it with your friends.

Group 18:33
Yeah.

Leah Flen 18:33

Okay, you're gonna go out and share the word cool. Do you want to shop?

Abigail Valles 18:37

Yeah. I was planning to anyways, yeah. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to interview with us.

Leah Flen 18:49

Yeah, of course. I'm glad. I'm glad you all took the initiative, came on down and chatted me up-

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