Saluki Food Pantry volunteers assist a student. (SIU Carbondale photo)
August 01, 2025
Poshard poetry reading at SIU to benefit Saluki Food Pantry
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Hundreds of Southern Illinois University Carbondale students get a little help in overcoming food insecurity each year, thanks to the Saluki Food Pantry. A special event on Sept. 29 featuring former SIU System President Glenn Poshard will kick off a food drive to stock the facility for the new academic year.
Poshard, a three-degree SIU alumnus and former state senator and member of Congress, will present a free poetry reading entitled “Beginnings and Endings” at 11 a.m. in the Student Center’s Ballroom B. All who attend the event, held during Hunger Action Month, are asked to bring nonperishable food items to help stock the shelves. Monetary donations will also be accepted, including online/credit card contributions. Poshard plans to recommend that the pantry be added to the donation list for the Poshard Foundation to consider when making charitable contributions.
Tours of the pantry will also be available after the event. Free parking for the event will be available for community members in Lot 13, across from the Student Center.
Impact by the numbers
During the 2024-2025 academic year, 280 students and their dependents were able to obtain food at the Saluki Food Pantry to ensure their nutritional needs were met and allow them to focus on their educational goals, said Emily Spann, Student Center associate director.
More than half of those students visited the pantry on more than one occasion, and 236 of them did not have a meal plan. Nearly all the students who obtained food attended full time, and more than half were working at least 11-20 hours a week. Over one-third were between the ages of 18 and 23, and 63% were first-generation students.
Since the pantry opened in 2016, it has served more than 7,300 Salukis and their dependents. SIU opened the pantry in response to research that indicated as many as one-third of college students were “food insecure,” meaning they were unable to obtain an adequate amount of food and sufficient nutrition at any given time.
Donations always welcome
In addition to accepting donations at the Poshard poetry reading, officials note that donations can be dropped off in the Student Center administrative office, located on the second floor, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Email foodpantry@siu.edu to arrange for pickup of a larger donation or if your organization wants to coordinate a food drive to benefit the pantry.
Donations of these items are especially welcome:
- Beans (kidney, refried, black, chili, etc.)
- Macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cornbread and other boxed/packaged side dishes.
- Spaghetti or tomato sauce.
- Pasta (spaghetti, linguine, fettucine).
- Canned meat (chicken, tuna).
- Canned meals (SpaghettiOs, chili, beef stew, etc.).
- Canned fruit (preferably in 100% juice or with no added sugar).
- Canned vegetables.
- Crackers.
- White or brown rice.
- Ramen noodles (chicken, beef, shrimp).
- Peanut butter.
- Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, chips, etc.).
- Dried soup or chili mixes or canned soups, chili.
- Breakfast items (oatmeal, cream of wheat, breakfast bars, etc.).
- Other necessities, including flour, sugar, jelly/jam, baking mixes, salt, seasoning.
Monetary donations are also appreciated and can be made through the “online giving” tab on the website.
Students receive enough food at no cost so that each family member residing in their household can eat for about three days. For more information, visit the website or email foodpantry@siu.edu.