Main Campus’s Whataburger Resource Room, located in Student Union room 1.04.06, has been open to students, faculty and staff in need of food or other essentials since March of 2017. When one enters the food pantry, they are immediately captivated by how full the pantry is with food for students. The colorful foods and the open door bring in a welcoming vibe. The staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable in the ways to assist anyone that needs it.
The food pantry was named after the partnership between UT San Antonio and the Whataburger Feeding Student Success Program. The pantry also receives assistance from the San Antonio Food Bank. The university also has a pantry at the Downtown Campus, located in the Durango Building in room 1.306.
The resource room supports all UT San Antonio students and is open Tuesday through Thursday, as well as Saturday. On Friday, the pantry is closed to replenish and restock. There are volunteer positions that are offered to help refill the pantry and other events, like the Thanksgiving meal bagging event, associated with the university or the pantry itself.
The Paisano interviewed political science major Lesley Guzman, who has worked at the food pantry for three years.
“[We] provide UTSA students, staff and faculty with free resources,” Guzman said when asked about the purpose of the resource room.
A big part of the pantry’s mission is to help support students by providing food as well as toiletries, baby food and clothes. The pantry also has a program for graduation gowns each semester, where they accept donated gowns for students who may not be able to afford them.
Guzman continued, “Not just limited to food, we have hygiene products, baby food, pet food, scantrons and school supplies.”
The pantry accepts donations through its collection bins located outside of the Whataburger Resource Room in the Student Union. The pantry is for students who are going through difficult times or just need food in general. The food pantry believes everybody’s situation is different and they are there to assist with all types of situations through food or clothing.
“We are here to make sure students, staff and faculty are fed, especially during times like these,” Guzman stated.“I really like the aspect of helping people. We are all in the same boat here at UTSA, and we just got to be there for one another.”
The Whataburger Resource Room has its own Instagram account sharing updates, photos, information and recipes for students. The pantry was created to help with student success by helping to feed students all year. The partnership with the SAFB shows the connection that UT San Antonio has to the city and the students within it.
