A groundbreaking initiative is addressing food insecurity among students at Western New Mexico University (WNMU). The partnership between Aramark, the university's dining hall service provider, and One Stop, a campus food pantry, aims to ensure no edible food goes to waste during school breaks. By channeling surplus meals from the dining facilities to those in need, this collaboration exemplifies a proactive approach to combating hunger within the academic community.

Institutional leadership plays a pivotal role in making such initiatives successful. Valencia Villanueva, Director of Food Services, highlights how her personal experiences with food scarcity have fueled her commitment to this cause. "Growing up, I often questioned whether there would be enough food," she recalls. This empathy drives her determination to share surplus resources effectively. Kim Woodard, Coordinator of Student Services overseeing One Stop operations, echoes similar sentiments about the tangible benefits brought by these efforts. During winter break, for instance, the influx of donated items filled their refrigerators beyond capacity, illustrating just how impactful this alliance has become.

The mission extends beyond simple donation programs; it involves fostering cross-campus partnerships like the recent cooperation with WILL (Western Institute for Lifelong Learning) over spring break. Volunteers cooked meals for resident students when the dining hall was closed, showcasing innovative ways to support student well-being. Such endeavors reflect broader goals shared by Katie Poirier, WNMU’s Director of Food Security and Sustainability, who praises Villanueva and Woodard for ensuring surplus food reaches needy students instead of being discarded. These actions underscore the importance of unity and resourcefulness in creating sustainable solutions for food security challenges faced by college students today.