Blue Table food pantry expands services

UB’s Blue Table food pantry has expanded its services to better serve students who experience short-term food insecurity.

Blue Table has undergone a renovation of its space in 230 Student Union on the North Campus, increased its hours to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, hired a part-time coordinator and adopted an enhanced service model — all part of its transition this past summer from Student Unions, which had managed the food pantry since its launch in 2019, to the Dean of Students Office. This student-facing unit is staffed with student affairs and higher education professionals with expertise in providing direct support to students; among related support services coordinated by the office are campus emergency funds and the Students of Concern behavioral intervention team.

“Blue Table has always existed to help students who experience unanticipated hardship and food insecurity,” says Ben Fabian, associate director for student support and resources in the Dean of Students Office and an original member of Blue Table’s oversight group. “The new service model now links students with professional support and maximizes their connection to food in an accessible, comfortable new space.”

Brianna Bengert, a social worker and the new Blue Table coordinator, says she meets one on one with students to talk about their specific situations, “and together we make a plan to get them the help they need while discussing other resources available to them.”

“As a social worker, I strive to make sure that the basic needs of all people are met so that they may have the opportunity to grow and thrive, and Blue Table does just that,” Bengert says. “We are here as another level of support for our students, while making sure that they feel they are in the driver’s seat of their health.”

Fabian explains that having Bengert available to meet with students “is a game changer.”

“Beyond linking students with groceries, a staff person can now help a student consider all of their immediate and basic needs, and link them with the best campus or community resources available.”

Blue Table was established in 2019 in response to a gubernatorial initiative, No Student Goes Hungry, that required all SUNY and CUNY campuses to implement food pantries or stigma-free, food-access programs. It began as a collaboration between Student Life and the Student Association.

Tomás Aguirre, dean of students, explains that oftentimes “support from Blue Table is enough to hold students over if the food insecurity is temporary, or allow our office to help facilitate an extended solution if the food insecurity is more long-term.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many campus operations slowed or stopped, Blue Table continued to make food available to students experiencing food insecurity.

In the coming year, Blue Table will pilot featuring recovered grab-and-go food from Campus Dining and Shops in its regular food offerings, and will add personal care items like deodorant, toothpaste and menstrual products to its inventory.

Fabian notes that during the fall semester, more than 20 campus units and groups staged fundraising events to benefit Blue Table, including the Professional Staff Senate, Business Services and the Educational Opportunity Program. In addition, students in adjunct instructor Daniel Liebel’s “Business in Society” undergraduate course donated nearly 900 food items, and School of Management alumni held a “UB Alums Hungry to Help” meat raffle in November that raised $5,000 for Blue Table.

The “Donations for Citations” program initiated by Parking and Transportation aimed to address the financial stress faced by students, faculty and staff by providing an alternative to paying parking citations that also benefited Blue Table.

“Under this program, individuals had the opportunity to have one non-safety violation dismissed by donating five, full-size, non-perishable food items" to Blue Table, says Nancy Kobielski, business services and communications manager with Parking and Transportation. “This initiative served a dual purpose by helping those who received citations and simultaneously assisting UB students in need through Blue Table.”

Kobielski says Parking and Transportation plans to continue “Donations for Citations” once per semester due to its success and the positive reception it received. Thirty-seven citations were dismissed with the donation of 209 food items to Blue Table. 

Those in the UB community looking to support Blue Table by fundraising or hosting a donation drive should review the Blue Table Community Toolkit.

“Whether you are part of a campus department, student organization, or any other group, hosting a donation drive or fundraiser is a thoughtful way to build community on your team while supporting an essential UB program,” Fabian says.

Blue Table is hosting an open house from 2:30-5 p.m. Jan. 5 in 230 Student Union; faculty and staff are invited to attend and encouraged to bring an item to donate. Here is a list of items that can be donated to Blue Table.

Students seeking support from Blue Table can establish a connection via its website.