NSU Students and Sodexo Partner to Support Campus Food Pantry

Students in the Presidential Leadership Program (PLP) at Northwestern State University of Louisiana teamed up with Sodexo Campus Dining on April 17 to promote the campus food pantry through a hands-on cooking demonstration at Vic’s in the Student Union.

The event featured a simple, hearty taco soup made primarily from ingredients available at the university’s food pantry, with student volunteers assisting Sodexo staff in prepping and sharing the recipe with fellow students. Organizers say the demonstration aimed to show how pantry items can be turned into practical, satisfying meals.

“We wanted to highlight how accessible pantry items can be and encourage students to make use of what’s available,” said Reatha Cox, a campus leader involved in coordinating the initiative. “At the same time, it was a chance to give back.”

Student leaders involved in the effort shared that the partnership with Sodexo gave them a unique platform to raise awareness about food insecurity and the pantry’s role on campus.

Rilee Hebert, a PLP participant, said, “I was a part of the food insecurity group and participated in the partnership with Sodexo in Vic's! I would like to say that was a great event! I think we could have gotten the word out there a little more/earlier, but other than that it was a success. Thank you for partnering with us and hope to do it again soon!”

Adrien Davis added, “I’m really grateful to Sodexo for letting us help out with the event. We really appreciate the chance to be involved and to raise money from donations for the campus food pantry.”

Riley Washington reflected on the broader impact: “As we were on the road to tackle a major concern of food insecurity on campus within our leadership group, our very own Sodexo was adamant to do the same. By allowing us to partner with them, we were able to provide even more exposure to the concern at hand, while too providing students with easy ways to access good food and raising money for the campus food pantry.”

In addition to the cooking demo, PLP students collected canned goods in exchange for T-shirts and brownies—donated by the on-campus Chick-fil-A—to further support the pantry’s inventory.

The event was part of a broader effort to reduce food insecurity on campus and educate students about available resources. Organizers say events like this help normalize the use of the food pantry and reduce stigma for students who may need support.

The NSU food pantry is open to all students, faculty, and staff, and relies on donations and community involvement to remain stocked throughout the academic year.