Nutrition Lounge Receives $10,000 Food Bank Credit

Students Access to Groceries and Other Essential Items Expanded

MEDIA CONTACT: David Thompson, dlthompson@bowiestate.edu, 301-860-4311

(BOWIE, Md.) – There are a lot of things that a student needs to be successful during their academic career beyond classroom items like books and laptops. Basic needs, such as consistent access to balanced meals, are also vital for ensuring that they’re able to make it graduation day. Which is where the Bowie State University Nutrition Lounge comes in.

The Nutrition Lounge, located on the lower level of Thurgood Marshall Library, just received a $10,000 food credit from the Capital Area Food Bank, a nonprofit that combats food insecurity across Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. The credit allows the BSU staff access to the Capital Area Food Bank’s online system to make orders for groceries and other necessities, such as toiletry items, at no cost to students, faculty or staff.

“We just go in the online system and order whatever we want, and they deliver the products to the lounge,” said Shanelle O’Connor, the Nutrition Lounge coordinator.

Beyond the Capital Area Food Bank, the Nutrition Lounge also partners with other local organizations, such as Zion Church and Greater Mt. Nebo AME Church to source fresh fruits and vegetables, breakfast foods and other items that serve a balanced diet. In addition to the food credit, The Nutrition Lounge is also working with Drop Essentials to develop an app to order from the lounge, as well as lockers where the orders can be delivered.

O’ Connor said that partnerships with organizations like the Capital Area Food Bank are vital for the Nutrition Lounge’s operations. The lounge provides a vital service in addressing hunger in the campus community, and its partnerships are key to making sure the lounge is well-stocked and able to meet the needs of anyone that walks through the doors.

“We want to cater to the needs of our BSU community,” said O’ Connor. “Food insecurity is real, and students may not be able to talk about it with their friends or professors, but they know that this is resource on campus they can come into without being stigmatized. We’re here to serve.”

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.