by Elias Weiss (Traveler Contributing Reporter)
Marking the completion of their two-month remodel and the eighth anniversary of pantry operation, the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry opened its doors for a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday afternoon.
More than 50 people came to watch the ribbon cutting and tour the food bank.
The remodel includes new lighting and flooring, additional storage and an electronic inventory system, said Mikayla Hammers, the data and operations coordinator for Full Circle.
Before the remodel, volunteers would weigh food as the clients left. The new barcode scanner will allow the volunteers to identify which items are being taken and which items need to be restocked, Hammers said.
“We have truly put a lot of incredible work into this space,” said Claire Allison, assistant director for Full Circle. “The change is truly monumental. We are so grateful to be in a community that truly supports us.”
The food pantry can be just as beneficial to the workers as it is to the clients, former intern Daniel Caruth said.
“When I started in 2011, I didn’t know why I wanted to do this,” Caruth said. “It started superficially because I thought it would look nice on a resume, but it’s unlike anything on campus. Just to see the way the university has embraced it means so much. A remodel seems so superficial and silly but it’s so important because it means the university cares so much about Full Circle.”
Nico Suarez, a senior, agrees.
“I found (Full Circle) and I was able to funnel my passion and find my identity through it,” Suarez said. “I am so excited to see how far it’s come.”
Clients can take advantage of the food pantry’s resources for any reason. Volunteers never ask clients for their reason for coming, but take pride in those clients that open up to them, said community outreach coordinator Kate Turner.
“The best part of all of our jobs is when a client feels close enough to us to share their story with us,” Turner said. “We would never ask a client why they’re here, but we want to make a safe space for clients so they can talk to us and feel comfortable.”
The remodel marks the next step in a close relationship between clients and volunteers, Turner said.
“This whole remodel was to serve the clients more efficiently,” Turner said. “Getting to share this with all of them and having them see the new space and getting them excited about all of it really meant the world to us.”
Pantry items include pasta, cereal, produce, canned foods, snacks and dessert. Full Circle established a temporary off-site food bank to serve clients during the remodel, Allison said.
The Volunteer Action Center provided free cupcakes for the attendees.