Newton Food Pantry Launches Dry Pantry Partnership at William James College

The Newton Food Pantry is pleased to announce the launch of a new partnership with William James College to operate a dry pantry at the school’s Newton campus. The pantry, which opened last month, offers shelf-stable foods and personal care products free of charge to William James students, faculty, and staff. This is the Newton Food Pantry’s second college collaboration, following the self-service pantry at Lasell University, which will celebrate its third anniversary in March.

As food insecurity continues to persist on college campuses, the number of on-site pantries providing free food and supplies is also on the rise. According to a recent article in The Guardian, nearly one-third of college students do not have access to affordable food and there are an estimated 800 food pantries on college campuses across the United States.

Exacerbating the problem is the rising cost of food both locally and nationwide. Since January 2023, food prices have increased by 11% in Middlesex County. Through partnerships with local college and university communities, the Newton Food Pantry aims to increase access to free food and personal care products and to share information about SNAP benefits and other helpful resources.

Although students, faculty, and staff of colleges based in Newton can shop at the Newton Food Pantry with a valid school ID, the administration at William James College sought to open an on-site, self-service dry pantry for easier access. The entire administration at William James, including Dean of Students Anne Coyne, helped facilitate this partnership.

“The opening of our food pantry is a natural extension of our efforts to make every member of our campus community feel welcome, safe and cared for,” says Coyne.

Many alumni and faculty have already offered support, and there is a wish list through which the Newton Food Pantry has received generous product donations. 

Longtime Newton Food Pantry volunteer, new Board member, and college liaison Rebecca Diamondstein, along with volunteer Stephanie Donohue Ganesh, are facilitating this new collaboration. Two William James work-study students are helping re-stock and track usage on campus. In the first three weeks the pantry was open, more than 30 members of the William James community signed up to utilize its resources. 

“We are excited to work with our colleagues at William James College to provide food and personal care items to their community members who need them. Having students staff the pantry is a new model, and one we are really excited about rolling out,” says Diamondstein. 

The Newton Food Pantry hopes this initiative, like the pantry at Lasell University in Newton, can pave the way for many more college collaborations in the future.