The last thing college students need to worry about is getting enough to eat. At Middle Georgia State College, students trying to stretch their food dollars have a new resource to get the help they need.

The offices of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs opened the SHARE pantry on January 14 in room 117 of the Student Life Center on the Macon Campus. Middle Georgia State students (and faculty and staff) may visit the pantry once a month during the semester to pick up donated food items.

SHARE stands for Serving, Helping And Respecting Everyone. The project reflects stewardship, one of the Middle Georgia State's core values. It also supports the state's Complete College Georgia initiative, which pushes colleges to remove barriers that stand in the way of student success.

"Middle Georgia State faculty, staff and students have been collecting canned and non-perishable goods for local food banks for years," said Jennifer Brannon, vice president for Student Affairs. "With SHARE, we are going to have the ability to serve the needs of our students, faculty and staff while continuing to support our local communities as well. We recognize that students sometimes encounter temporary economic hardships as they pursue their college education. This pantry may help remove one of the barriers that might have a bearing on the student’s success.”

The SHARE pantry is stocked with staple food items such as canned tuna, peanut butter and spaghetti sauce. Many of the items were donated by students, faculty and staff. A SHARE pantry will open soon on the Cochran Campus, with others to follow on the Dublin, Eastman and Warner Robins campuses.

SHARE pantry hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students, faculty and staff who show their MGA Knight ID cards can visit once per month during spring, summer and fall semesters to pick up three items each time. Those needing services outside of the established hours can contact the Student Life office at (478) 471-2710 to make an appointment.

Ongoing donations to the SHARE pantry are encouraged.

For more information, contact Dee Lindsey, Director of Student Life, at (478) 471-2710.