ONE NSU MAGAZINE “The NSU Shark Food Pantry is arguably the most valuable and student-centered resource at this university,” said Cassidy Zangwill, a Halmos College of Arts and Sciences student. “Being able to pick up essential items once a week means I never have to worry about having a meal after a long day of school or work. I, like many other students at NSU, attend on a scholarship and work to cover my other expenses. This service provides a reliable source of nutritious food and hygiene essentials to students who otherwise may not be able to afford them.” A VALUE-ADDED INITIATIVE Since its inception, the Shark Pantry has serviced 1,448 unique students, with more than 15,315 visits resulting in approximately 80,042 pounds of food and 66,701 meals. However, beyond its current offerings, Kevorkian and Gittleman are always looking for ways to provide other essential provisions, such as pots, pans, and refrigerators. “We noticed that when students moved out of their dorms, they were tossing valuable and usable items into the dumpsters at the end of the school year,” said Gittleman, who collaborated with student government and residential life and housing to establish a donation drive where students could provide pots, pans, refrigerators, and microwaves they were planning to throw away. “There’s potential for us to do even more, so we’re working with facilities and student government to figure out how to accomplish this goal.” For those involved in the Shark Pantry, they learn something new daily regarding how the initiative is benefiting NSU students. “We have students who shop with their children,” revealed Cruz de Benoit. “Recently, we helped a father who is enrolled in an NSU doctoral program. He was shopping with his daughter, who is in a master’s program here. It’s important to know that we have two student members from the same family who visit the Shark Pantry to maintain their nutritional balance. It’s similar for our commuter student population. Some live with grandparents or siblings, and they visit us to supplement their nutrition.” “The pantry is used by our future teachers, business partners, doctors, pharma- cists, and nurses,” Kevorkian concluded. “We’re making sure they have the proper nutrition to be able to concentrate on what’s really important—getting a good education and being able to take care of themselves, their families, and all of us.” To learn more about the NSU Shark Food Pantry or how to donate, visit computing.nova.edu/about/shark-food-pantry.html. 52
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