Due to an uptick in student visits, the Barnett and Irvine Cherry Pantry has moved to a new location. Prior to moving in August, the Cherry Pantry had been located on the Student Center’s second floor since 2018. 

“We’ve outgrown our original space, and it was really important for us to continue to scale our operations to continue to meet the need that we see on campus,” said Annette Ditolvo, senior program manager of basic needs support in the Dean of Students Office.  

The pantry, located on the lower level of the Howard Gittis Student Center, stocks an array of produce and nonperishable food items such as cereal, oatmeal, pasta, peanut butter, rice, mashed potatoes, canned fruit, canned tuna and canned vegetables. Hygiene products such as deodorant, soap, shampoo and conditioner are also available. A vending machine offering free menstrual products is also located in front of the pantry. 

Ditolvo noted that the pantry experienced a 297% increase in weekly shoppers from the spring of 2022 to spring of 2024. During the 2023–2024 academic year, the pantry received 9,061 total visits and distributed 20,441 pounds of produce. 

This summer, the pantry formed a new partnership with Philabundance, a nonprofit food bank. 

“This partnership has opened the opportunity for us to have a consistent flow of inventory to support our campus community,” Ditolvo said. 

In spring 2024, The Hope Center conducted a survey that captured the prevalence of basic needs insecurity on Temple’s campus. Survey findings indicated that 36% of respondents experienced limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food. The survey also showed that 37% of respondents experienced one or more challenges that prevented them from having a safe, affordable and consistent place to live in the previous year. 

“I think that data really painted a picture of how necessary resources like this are for our students,” Ditolvo said. 

“Temple is an institution that values affordability and accessibility and the Cherry Pantry is a manifestation of that. We strive to support students and ensure that student success is not being undermined by basic needs insecurities.”