BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Starting this week, hungry students at Indiana University won't have to wonder where their next meal will come from.
On Tuesday, the school celebrated the grand opening of the first-ever food pantry that will cater to the needs of needy IU students – students like Alex Molica.
"My scholarship just ran out and I am completely broke," Molica said.
Not sure where to go for food, he heard about the opening of the Crimson Cupboard. He also happens to share a class with pantry founder Mercedes Jones.
"We all assume that, oh, we're at this Big 10 school, everybody has food, and that's not the case at all," Jones said.
This summer, as part of an internship program, Jones interviewed faculty, students and staff to shed light on the scope of the campus-wide issue.
"Hearing students say, you know, they are choosing between paying their rent and buying groceries," Jones said.
Jones said seeing people like Molica get the food he needs is all the validation she needs.
"You know, and I said that I wasn't going to cry today, but you know that it's so needed, and knowing that I was able to do this for people … it's the biggest accomplishment of my life," Jones said.
You do need to be a student to shop at the Crimson Cupboard. For more information about the pantry, click here.
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