UW food pantry started as a pop up. Now it's permanent.

The expression “starving students” takes on a new meaning when you consider this: an estimated 25 percent of college students across the country go hungry or don’t have access to adequate food. 

This week, the University of Washington opened a permanent food pantry to help students in need.

Elizabeth Dios was one of the students at the pantry, picking up staples like cereal, soup and other canned goods. Dios is a graduate student in the school of social work. She says she’s fortunate she has scholarship and a grant that help with school expenses. But there are times when she doesn’t have enough to pay the bills.

Food is the part of her budget that suffers. “If I can’t pay for everything at the moment, that’s the area that I will take from,” she said.

Her friend Sara Gorcos, also in the same program, said there have been times when she’s had to go without a meal. When her work schedule allows it, she goes to the food bank on Queen Anne where she lives.

“Now that this permanent location is open,” said Gorcos, “I can start coming here.”

Demand for food at UW has grown. When the university hosted its first food pantry pop-up, it drew 100 students. Last year more than 700 used the program.

Sean Ferris is special assistant to the vice president for student life. He said there can be a lot of stigma attached to using a food program, so they try to make it as easy as possible.

“All folks have to do is bring their Husky card, we let them know what the pantry does and who it’s intended to serve, and folks can come on in and shop with us,” Ferris said.

The university recently conducted a survey on student food insecurity and homelessness. Ferris said the data is being analyzed and the results will be out in the near future.