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Dillons helps combat food insecurity at WSU with $25,000 gift

In 2015, a study of Wichita State students revealed that 50 percent of the student population admitted to skipping a meal because they could not afford to eat. That number jumped to 67 percent for international students. As a result of these findings, the Shocker Support Locker was born.

When it officially opened its doors on February 1, 2016, the Shocker Support Locker began providing a place where all students, faculty and staff could gain access to food, clothing, toiletries and basic products, contributing to the overall health and wellbeing of the entire WSU community. Funded by the ongoing generosity of community partners, the locker empowers Shockers along their journey at Wichita State by providing this temporary supplemental assistance.

Now in its eighth year, the locker has grown to be an incredible resource for the entire campus community, and thanks to a $25,000 gift from Zero Hunger Zero Waste by Kroger, the parent company of Dillons Supermarkets, that growth will continue.

“At Dillons, we are deeply committed to helping achieve positive changes in our communities,” said Sheila Regehr, corporate affairs manager at Dillons. “We focus our philanthropy and community engagement efforts on advancing our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social and environmental impact plan; our commitment to help create communities free of hunger and waste. We are pleased to work with partners like Wichita State to advance that mission.”

Zero Hunger Zero Waste was established to address the 229 million tons of food wasted each year and the 42 million Americans who struggle with hunger. Dillons’ support of the Shocker Support Locker is one step in achieving that goal.

“The Shocker Support Locker helps alleviate my worries about where my next meal will come from,” said one student. “Because of this, I’m able to focus more on my academic performance and participation on campus.” Another student added, “It helps many students who are like me, who don’t have enough funds for basic necessities. As a Shocker, I do take pride that our school has the locker to help many others.”

The locker accepts food donations year-round, which can be dropped off in the Student Government Association office located in the Rhatigan Student Center, room 219 on Wichita State’s campus. To learn more about the locker and how you can support it, visit their webpage.