The Panther Pantry, located in the basement of Maucker Union, provides food and groceries for UNI students who qualify as food insecure. The pantry’s shelves are stocked by donations from the community. Connecting Alumni to Students (CATS) is having their first Panther Pantry food drive this Thursday to load the shelves. 

“There are three branches that make up our mission,” CATS advisor Sarah Craw said. “Connecting Alumni to students, so working to engage alumni and students with each other, the university and the Division of Advancement where the alumni office sits.”

“But we also own and operate the Tradition challenge on campus,” Craw said. “So connecting students with the pieces of the Panther experience that continue through generations of Panthers.”

CATS hopes this food drive will be an annual event. In weeks prior, they have been challenging student organizations to collect food.  Whichever organization brings in the heaviest donation will receive a prize. CATS will purchase snacks for the organization that wins to bring to their following meetings to help motivate students.

Donations are not limited to student organizations. Individual students can donate and will be rewarded with a free T-shirt while supplies last. Students are invited to the event where games and activities will be available. It will be held in Maucker Union on Thursday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. If schedules interfere with the donation time, contact CATS at [email protected] prior to the food drive, or donations can be made at the Panther Pantry in the lower level of Maucker Union at any time.

 “This is a great organization on campus, a great service that we provide on campus, and it’s great for students to help students who are right here in their own neighborhood and their own community,” Craw said.