Governor Tony Evers visited UW-Eau Claire’s Campus Harvest Food Pantry on Nov. 17 to speak with staff members and interns about their work and how the pantry may have been affected by the recent government shutdown.  

Evers said he appreciates the work the staff at the Campus Harvest Food Pantry does as well as the selection of items the pantry has available. This includes not just food but items such as personal hygiene products. 

“They help students continue their work as students,” Evers said. “Going to college is an expensive proposition, and we’ve got lots of students that may have lots of financial needs.”

Evers’ visit came in the wake of a nationwide government shutdown, which paused the distribution of benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The recent government shutdown began on Oct. 1 and ended Nov. 12, making it the longest in U.S. history to date. 

While the shutdown is over, these benefits are being distributed but have been delayed, and “the money will take weeks or longer to arrive and will only cover a portion of the benefits people are supposed to receive,” according to a report by the Wisconsin Examiner. 

Sarah Snyder, the assistant dean of students who oversees the Campus Harvest Food Pantry, said the shutdown had a significant impact on the pantry’s use. 

“We had our biggest month ever in October, and we’ve been open for 11 years now,” Snyder said. “We are on track to see that in November as well. So just a lot more students are utilizing the service and needing that support.”

Evers said the increased usage of food banks and pantries like Campus Harvest Food Pantry and Feed My People was “absolutely concerning.” 

“Systems across the state of Wisconsin, and I think, frankly, our country, are struggling,” Evers said. “We’re struggling to get through what we just went through with the SNAP program at the federal level.”

Snyder said that Evers has always been an advocate of the people’s needs, and she was excited to have him visit the campus pantry.

“I’m hopeful that we can get the word out that everybody needs support,” Snyder said. “We need support to help feed these folks that are struggling to get food.” 

Padraig Gallagher, executive director of Feed My People Food Bank, said he hopes the visit will put a spotlight on food insecurity among students. 

“Folks oftentimes don’t look at a campus and think that there can be struggles with nutrition, but it’s certainly the case,” Gallagher said. “I really enjoyed the fact that the innovative work of the pantry was highlighted.” 

Snyder is working with the Student Senate to request that the pantry receive a segregated fee to help maintain its operations. 

“It’s going to be presented this week and then reviewed by (Student Senate) and the chancellor next week and brought to the Board of Regents in the spring,” Snyder said. “Having that consistent funding, if it gets passed, will be super helpful.” 

Michael Carney, UW-Eau Claire interim chancellor, gave a statement after Evers’ visit.

“We are thrilled that Governor Evers was on campus to view our Campus Harvest Food Pantry operations,” Carney said. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration to provide a much-needed resource to our student body.”

Sherry can be reached at [email protected].