Despite significant decreases in the number of pickups at the UF Hitchcock Field and Fork Pantry, the foodservice continues to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pantry, located on UF’s campus provides non-perishable food, toiletries and fresh produce grown at the Field and Forks Gardens to those who present a Gator 1 Card. The Hitchcock Field and Fork pantry had more than 600 checkouts the week before Spring Break. Since UF went fully online on March 16, it only had 168 checkouts that week.
A Friday email sent to students said those who use the pantry can place online orders for what they need and specify their date and time of pickup. Students can also stop by the pantry to pick up a premade bag of food.
Wednesday’s operating time also changed to open from 3-6 p.m., said Ambre Hobson, the pantry’s supervisor and assistant director in the Dean of Students Office.
Because students are heading home, volunteers — including faculty, staff and graduate students — are running the pantry.
“We do plan to continue to serve students and staff on our campus for as long as we can,” Hobson said.
Contact Anna Wilder at awilder@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter @anna_wilder.
A volunteer stocking shelves with canned food at the Field and Fork Pantry on UF's campus in 2016.
Anna Wilder is a second-year journalism major and the criminal justice reporter. She's from Melbourne, Florida, and she enjoys being outdoors or playing the viola when she's not writing.
