Pop-up food pantry opens at Salem State

Salem State University students and residents struggling with food insecurity can now get produce and other items from the Fresh Harvest Pop Up Stand, a free and mobile food pantry.

Salem State has partnered with The Salem Pantry and Citizens Inn to provide the food, with funds from the Brace Cove Foundation.

The pantry will be open the first and third Wednesday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 68 Loring Ave. on Salem State’s campus.

Every second and fourth Saturday, the stand will be at Espacio, the North Shore Community Development Coalition’s community room, at 105 Congress St.

“It becomes increasingly difficult to focus on your academics when you’re not sufficiently nourished,” said Nate Bryant, Salem State University’s chief of staff to the president. “We are proud to partner with the Salem Pantry and Citizens Inn to provide an array of healthy options for our students.”

Citizens Inn has reported that Salem residents, many of whom are Salem State students, are the largest population served by the organization, even though it is located in Peabody.

“Since learning that 47 percent of our 1.5 million pounds of food annually is going to Salem residents, our priority has been to launch a mobile market to serve individuals more efficiently and get to new individuals in those neighborhoods,” said Citizens Inn’s executive director, Corey Jackson. “We’re also very excited to bring nutritious, fresh food to the students, faculty, and staff at Salem State University.”

No preregistration is necessary to participate in the mobile pantries, but a proof of residency (photo ID and a piece of mail that has been delivered to the home address and dated within the last 30 days) or a Salem State University student ID will be required.

The majority of the stand’s offerings will be fresh produce, with a selection of shelf-stable foods.