Farhan* was hungry to improve himself upon moving to the United States as a high school senior. He always wanted to go to college, and that approach made it possible. Then he was just flat out hungry.

Thankfully, he chose a campus capable of curbing that problem. Farhan became one of almost 1,600 food insecure students — belonging to both Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) — that the Campus Corner Food Pantry served last year, totaling more than 19,000 meals.

This place really takes care of us. The food pantry supports everyone who needs it,” Farhan, originally from Syria, said. “It’s the most helpful resource we have. I don’t know of another campus that provides something like this.

Campus Corner was established in autumn 2017. It started by stocking non-perishable food items and has since expanded to include hygiene products and baby care items. It has also expanded to all three of COTC’s extended campus locations — Coshocton, Knox and Pataskala. The food pantry is operated by the Newark campus’s Office of Student Life, and nearly all its employees are students.

Farhan, an Ohio State Newark freshman, is one of them. Figuring out how to live on his own delivered some growing pains, which led to hunger pangs. “In the first few weeks, I spent basically all my money,” Farhan confessed, “and of course I still needed to eat.” That’s when he turned to the food pantry, eventually turning into one of its student workers. “Now,” he said, “I’m making money to buy my own groceries.”

Melissa is no longer in that position. She hasn’t been able to work since last winter, when she hit a deer while delivering for DoorDash. The collision totaled her car and cut off the 53-year-old’s only source of income besides social security. To improve her position, “I committed to furthering my education,” she said. Melissa earned an addiction studies certificate from COTC and is now pursuing her social work assistant degree. “My schoolwork keeps me busy,” the recovering addict said, “and it keeps me clean.”

The food pantry helps keep her fed. To reach it, Melissa hitches an Uber from her subsidized housing. She comes to Campus Corner twice a month, more frequently than the three other Licking County food pantries she also utilizes. “I feel most comfortable coming to this one,” she said. “Ordering online is really easy, the people are lovely and we can choose from a large variety.” Campus Corner’s unique recipe book has helped her turn that variety into savory meals. It also stocks strawberry Glucerna shakes, the diabetic’s favorite flavor. “They really just go above and beyond here,” she said.

That extra effort affords this campus’s students a more stress-free academic experience. As a result, Farhan has found his footing as a finance major. Melissa is already qualified to be a chemical dependency counseling assistant, and she’s chasing her dream of doing online addiction counseling. With the help of this food pantry, not only are these students’ stomachs fuller, but their futures are full of potential.

It takes such a weight off my shoulders,” Melissa said. “They obviously put lots of resources into making this support accessible. The food pantry makes a huge impact, and it continues to improve.

Farhan still feels inspired to improve himself. He’s working, studying, joining clubs and hoping to meet all 300 fellow Buckeyes currently living at Newark. “This community is just amazing,” he said. “I’ve never seen people put so much love into their campus.” To him, it appears most prominently through the Newark campus’s most helpful resource. “When someone gives even just 1% to the food pantry, it makes a 100% difference for us.”

*A pseudonym was used to protect the student’s identity.

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