On-campus food pantry Thea’s Pantry will celebrate the opening of its new, larger location with an open house on Wednesday, February 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to see the new space on the first floor of the Student Center and enjoy light refreshments.
First opened in 2019, Thea’s Pantry provides food, hygiene products, school supplies, and items such as towels, socks, and sheets for all members of the campus community. “Thea’s Pantry is important because it provides an accessible, on-campus service for students, staff, and faculty who are facing food insecurity or at risk of becoming food insecure,” said Kristie McNamara, director of the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development. The pantry’s move from a small room on the third floor to the first floor places Thea’s Pantry in a more discreet location for users, McNamara said.
Thea’s Pantry is named in honor of Thea Aschkenase, who graduated from Worcester State with a degree in urban studies in 2007 when she was in her early 80s. Aschkenase experienced hunger in Europe during the Holocaust and, later in life, became a tireless advocate for those experiencing food insecurity.
The open house will give visitors a chance to learn more about the pantry and the resources available. Visitors can enter a raffle to win an Amazon gift card, air fryer, or cookbook. The pantry will also be accepting food or toiletry donations to help continue its support of the Worcester State community.
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