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Students brings awareness to donating at Penguin Pantry at Youngstown State University

By Kelcey Norris Mahoning Matters

October 29, 2023 4:00 AM

Four Youngstown State University students used a class project to raise awareness for a good cause called the Penguin Pantry.

Guin Pals 4 Hunger helps students struggling with food insecurity and raises awareness for needed donations for local students, like winter coats.

Packing the Penguin Pantry

Cassandra Lucyk, a senior communication major at YSU, explained how Guin Pals 4 Hunger began in the classroom.

“It [actually was] for one of my college classes, social media communications, that’s what I’m in right now. We had to create a campaign for something that we were passionate about. One of my group members came to me and said that we should do the Penguin Pantry and we all agreed,” said Lucyk.

She explained all three of her group members were on board campaigning to support the pantry.

The group includes Lucyk, Giang Nguyễn, Ellie Drescher and Jazelle Artman, all communication majors at YSU.

“We wanted to bring awareness to it,” said Lucyk. “We wanted to make it easier to know how to get things there. Because before that, I thought you could just walk into the pantry and, really, you can’t. You have to schedule an appointment. So we kind of just want to let people know how the pantry is supposed to be used and how to donate to it. A lot of people just don’t know.”

The Penguin Pantry is at 1405 Cushwa Hall on the YSU campus.

“Winter clothes are definitely the biggest thing right now,” said Lucyk. “They also need hygiene products and non-perishable food that’s able to stay good for a long period of time.”

If you want to donate to the pantry, visit the Amazon Wishlist for frequently requested items.

YSU Student Government runs the pantry. Email the Office of the Dean of Students at dos@ysu.edu with other questions about the Penguin Pantry.