Now, instead of picking up disbursements in-person, a team of volunteers delivers orders submitted through the Food Pantry’s new website which allows more people to stay in their homes and minimize the risk of exposure. While the restructuring was arduous, it also completely revamped the way that the program will run now and into the future. “We are not going back to how things were. The e-commerce site is phenomenal,” Higgins said.
Now, with ongoing funding from the University, The Food Pantry at Columbia is going strong. At a time when food insecurity is rampant throughout the country, the program has been able to serve hundreds of students throughout New York City during the pandemic, who would have otherwise not had safe access.
Due to its success in reaching students and their impressive business model, The Food Pantry at Columbia’s influence has expanded beyond the reach of Columbia University. “It’s a catalyst for change in other Ivy League institutions and we’ve had other Ivy League schools reach out to us,” said Higgins.