For over a decade, the Bods Feeding Bods food pantry has been one of Washburn University’s most essential but often overlooked resources. It was created in 2014 by Kelsey Rose, Bonner leader and psychology major, after a campus-wide food insecurity survey revealed that over half of students struggled to afford meal., The pantry now serves students, faculty and staff with dignity and care.
Located in Kuehne Hall, the pantry offers a store-like experience where shoppers can select their items privately. It’s stocked weekly with over 1,000 pounds of food, 90% of which comes from the Harvesters, which is a national food bank. The remaining donations come from campus departments, local gardens and most recently, a new partnership with Natural Grocers in Topeka.
“Food is a basic human need, but sometimes it’s hard for someone to come forward and say that they need help,” said Alli Ramos, care coordinator of Bods Feeding Bods. “So the pantry kind of offers this dignified way of [like] going into a store, so it still feels like a shopping experience where someone doesn’t have to feel like they’re less than the average person because they need help, but they can come in and shop with dignity and pride that they can get what they need and that they’re supported without feeling like they’re struggling.”
The pantry has also grown through strategic partnerships. A recent collaboration with Natural Grocers in Topeka now brings in weekly donations of organic and natural foods, something that Harvesters doesn’t always supply. Other major donors include the Kansas State Extension garden in Topeka and the Washburn community garden, both of which contribute fresh vegetables regularly.
Internal support from departments like Student Health Services and OSID has also made a difference on sharing hygiene products like deodorant or participating in donation drives. Greek Life events such as Can Castle competitions have brought in more than 1,000 pounds of food at a time.
“I think just in general, lots of people on campus don’t know about the pantry,” said Kacee Doonan, student worker of Bods Feeding Bods. “Surprisingly, I’ll talk to people, it’ll be [like] Oh yeah, we have some good stuff at the pantry today. And they’re like, We have a food pantry. So I mean, just in general, I think people need to know that we actually have one and it’s open to all students and faculty with Washburn ID.”
Last fiscal year, Bods Feeding Bods distributed more than 70,000 pounds of food, with less than 10% going to waste. However, the pantry operates on a limited budget, which meets current needs but may fall short as campus demand grows. Recent nationwide cuts to food bank funding have also affected Harvesters, the pantry’s main supplier, reducing food deliveries by half.
Space is another issue, with only one storage room in a former dorm building, making it difficult to store and organize incoming supplies. Despite these challenges, the high demand is a sign the pantry is making an impact.
Students can find the pantry on Instagram at BodsFeedingBods or through Washburn’s website. The Bods Feeding Bods student organization has recently been revived and is accepting new members, offering another way for students to get involved, shape pantry decisions and support food security on campus.
Edited by Arohi Rai and Stuti Khadka
