By Hayden Sadler
The Cardinal Cupboard at Angell College Center is in need of items this semester. Personal care products are in especially short supply.
Michele Carpentier is the assistant vice principal for student affairs and director of special programs at SUNY Plattsburgh. The Cardinal Cupboard is a food and supply pantry in ACC 110 that offers students a means of acquiring supplies they need. These items range from personal care products, such as shampoo, body wash and deodorant, to food items, such as canned vegetables, soups and ramen.
Those interested in donating toiletries, food or clothing can do so between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday through Friday.
“We’re willing to take anything that anyone wants to give us,” Carpentier said.
Donations often come in the form of food items. Recently, demand has shifted to hygiene products.
“We have a lot of calls for shampoos, toothpastes and deodorant,” Carpentier said. “People don’t think to donate them.”
The Cardinal Cupboard gives assistance to students in need, whether they live on- or off-campus. Orders can be sent to the office by filling out a form on the SUNY Plattsburgh website. Off-campus students in particular could have a need for the pantry, even more so in the event that financial reasons led them to move off-campus.
Eirik Lavigne is a junior math major at SUNY Plattsburgh. While he hasn’t had to utilize the Cardinal Cupboard, he affirms the value of such a program being offered by the school.
“It’s a great way to help off-campus students in financially tough situations,” Lavigne said.
The shortage of hygiene products doesn’t come as much surprise to him or other students. Ixchelita Granados lives on-campus and is a senior studying broadcast journalism. The existence of the Cardinal Cupboard came as news to her, but, like Lavigne, she sees the value in such a program being offered.
“No idea that was a thing,” Granados said. “I think it’s a good thing, I just don’t think more people are aware of it.”
Aside from many students not fully knowing about the on-campus pantry, a shortage of non-food items may come as little surprise.
“People are more worried about food,” Granados said. “I’m glad more people will get to learn about the Cardinal Cupboard.”
Carpentier shares a similar idea about donations trending toward food rather than care products, “People think food goes in a pantry so more people don’t really think to put them in there.” Carpentier said regarding personal care products. Students can help though.
“We can actually take anything they [students] want to give us,” Carpentier said.
The more people that are aware of the cupboard’s existence, then the more donations of various supplies will come in. “More people would be willing to help if they were aware,” Granados said.
It is early in the semester, which means there is plenty of time for the Cardinal Cupboard to fill its stock and adequately be able to support students in need — both on- and off-campus.
