As the month of October began, so did Tiger Pantry, the Missouri Students Association’s newest auxiliary that will provide students, staff and faculty at MU with food assistance.

“(Tiger Pantry) created a bridge between those who can help and those who need help,” said Peggy Kirkpatrick, executive director of the Central Missouri Food Bank, at the opening.

The pantry opened its doors Oct. 1 at 1400 Rock Quarry Road and will begin distributing food Oct. 2.

Tiger Pantry will operate from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday.

The new service will assist any student, staff and faculty member who needs the food assistance. There is no test to assess a client’s need.

“(We want) to keep our doors open to everyone who needs help,” Tiger Pantry marketing coordinator Rafa Nizam said.

In order to access the services, one must fill out a request form online or at the Tiger Pantry center. Afterward, clients will receive an ID card and can pick up their food once a month.

Though volunteers at Tiger Pantry are unsure how many will utilize the services, there is a great need for food assistance at MU, said Nick Droege, Tiger Pantry founder and MSA director of student services.

At the opening, Droege said 15,000 students receive need-based aid, 6,000 students receive Pell Grants and 1,000 students receive less than $1,000 in family assistance.

“The statistics tell us with certainty that there is in fact a need (for Tiger Pantry’s services), and we expect people to respond to this opportunity to receive food,” School of Nursing professor Anne Deaton said. Deaton worked closely with Droege during the planning stages of Tiger Pantry.

Droege learned the statistics after he discovered the University of Arkansas’ Full Circle Food Pantry, according to a previous Maneater article.

“(The first step) was getting enough support because at first, we didn’t think enough people would rally behind this idea,” Tiger Pantry co-fundraising coordinator Tim Lewis said.

Now that Tiger Pantry is open, the next step is to maintain operations and meet the needs of clients, Nizam said.

“We want to make sure we have all of the food that we need to meet the needs of the various families and students and that we have the right food,” Deaton said.

Tiger Pantry will try to maintain donations through private donations and food drives hosted by other organizations, Lewis said.

“It’s really about fostering support with other organizations and departments on campus so if they host the food drive one year, it won’t just be a one-time thing,” he said. “(Also,) we’ll be going to the community (for donations) because every little thing helps.”

Promoting the services will also solidify Tiger Pantry’s permanence in the future, Deaton said.

“I think (the most important things are) keeping donations of the food that is needed in and getting the word out — those two things together will ensure the sustainability of the food pantry,” she said.

Droege said he is already planning for the future of Tiger Pantry.

“Next semester, we’re looking into providing fresh produce and offering more resources,” Droege said. “We want to be part of the solution, not just be a temporary fix.”

Droege said he and other volunteers want to ensure Tiger Pantry is here to help members of the MU community.

“I just think this is so exemplary of the Mizzou student body and what they mean when they say ‘One Mizzou’ and how they’re willing to live One Mizzou,” Deaton said.