�� Alumna Supports Campus Food Pantry

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Whittnee LaChapelle ’89, P’23 turns her passion for fighting food insecurity into action.

You wouldn’t know it walking past the little yellow house on the east side of the ��’s campus, but inside, there’s a room full of nutritious food, fresh produce, toiletries, and hygiene products. All of it is free to take for students who might otherwise not have enough to eat.

The Campus Food Pantry’s goal is simple: reduce food insecurity among students at Puget Sound. At colleges across the country, from large public schools to elite private institutions, students either aren’t getting enough to eat or don’t know where their next meal will come from. According to the most recent survey conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, 23% of undergraduate students and 12% of graduate students nationwide are experiencing food insecurity.

“From a food perspective, things actually got better for a while during the pandemic. But as expansions of federal programs like SNAP started winding down, we saw the need increase,” says Director of Student Support Eric Hetland. Hetland’s office oversees the food pantry, which is managed by staff member Logan Esterling and a team of students. Hetland notes that rising rates of inflation have only made things worse, driving up the cost of food and other pantry staples.

Canned items on a shelf in the Campus Food Pantry. — The Campus Food Pantry's expanded selection includes fresh fruit and vegetables, pantry staples, toiletries, and personal hygiene items.

Fresh produce at the campus Food Pantry — The Campus Food Pantry's expanded selection includes fresh fruit and vegetables, pantry staples, toiletries, and personal hygiene items.

That’s where the Campus Food Pantry comes in. The pantry is available seven days a week between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Students can use their Logger Card to let themselves in and are free to take whatever food and essential items they may need. Over the last two years, Hetland has seen usage of the pantry increase. Visits are anonymous, but staff can track the number of card swipes. The pantry now receives more than 3,000 visits a year.

Whittnee LaChapelle ’89, P’23 was thrilled to discover that Puget Sound had a food pantry program. The Puget Sound alumna is passionate about fighting food insecurity and wanted to help current students at her alma mater.

“You can’t study if you’re not eating well,” says LaChapelle. “Fresh produce is expensive and you may not have easy access to it. It’s much cheaper to go to a fast food restaurant and grab something that's got calories in it, but it's not really feeding your brain.”

LaChapelle decided to do something about it. After years of supporting first-generation students through donations to the Posse Program, she decided to go all-in on supporting access to fresh, nutritious food. In 2023, she made a three-year, $58,000 commitment to the Campus Food Pantry. Her gift has enabled the pantry to expand its offerings to accommodate more dietary restrictions and cultural preferences, purchase a cooler to store fresh fruits and vegetables, and fund a student staff position to keep shelves stocked, track usage, and establish best practices.

You can’t study if you’re not eating well.

“It’s really come a long way,” says Hetland. “We’re learning a lot and expanding what we offer. It’s not just bread and peanut butter. In the future, when Dining & Event Services has extra meals, they will package individual portions and freeze them for us. The fruits and veggies go quickly, too, and that tells us that we’re on the right track.”

On a recent visit to campus, LaChapelle toured the food pantry and was excited to see the expanded options. She hopes staff can continue to get the word out on campus and encourage students who need food to utilize the program. Above all, she wants to inspire other Logger alumni to pitch in.

“As an alumna, to be able to come back as a parent and get involved again reminds me why I loved it here so much. And then to give back and help others get as much out of their experience as I did—that’s an incredible opportunity,” says LaChapelle. “It’s not a million dollars, but it’s helping people and that’s the goal.”

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