In honor of Hunger Action Month — observed in September — Stetson’s Hatter Food Pantry partnered with U.S. Hunger to put together 10,000 red lentil jambalaya meals Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Rinker Field House.

“We witnessed a taste of the soul of Stetson in our community coming together with joy and enthusiasm committed to actively addressing food insecurity on our campus and in Volusia County,” said Rev. Todd F. Campbell, director of Religious and Spiritual Life and Stetson University Chaplain. “There is so much work to be done to decrease food insecurity, but I am proud that some were able to start by packing 10,000 meals and taking the time to become aware of the issue.” 

The meals are shelf-stable for a year to a year-and-a-half and will go toward Stetson’s Hatter Pantry as well as some local food pantries such as The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, and Hispanic Health Initiatives.  

“This event truly embodied the spirit of Stetson, the same spirit that first drew me here as a student and now brings me back as a staff member,” said August Maulfair, Food Equity coordinator. 

With the help of 65 volunteers — students and staff combined — and a couple of employees from U.S. Hunger, the 10,000 meals were packed in the blink of an eye. 

“This is what makes Stetson special, the unwavering commitment to addressing the issues that matter,” Maulfair said. “It’s this spirit of service and collaboration that defines our university, and what it means to be a Hatter. I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.”

About Hatter Pantry

The Hatter Pantry was created in 2013 by Nicole Currie, administrative specialist III of Student Counseling Services. Today, it serves the Stetson Community as an initiative out of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life.

Hatter Pantry is a free supplemental food resource for all students, staff and faculty. There are two locations: one in Griffith Hall, open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  — with an hour break from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch — and another in the Cross-Cultural Center, open from 8 a.m. to midnight.

For more information, questions or concerns about how to access Hatter Pantry, how to enroll in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food equity in general, contact August Maulfair at [email protected].

Flickr Gallery