The aroma of pozole, squash soup, and freshly fried sopapillas filled the Fort Lewis College Student Union Ballroom on Monday as more than 200 students gathered for Together at the Table: A Community Meal & Mini-Market.
The event, sponsored by the Office of the President, the Division of Student Engagement and by the Grub Hub to support campus community members facing benefit program uncertainty.
The event comes as many students and families face questions around the availability of SNAP benefits and other forms of federal assistance during the government shutdown. It provided an opportunity for students, staff, and volunteers to connect, share food, and access resources in a welcoming environment.
“When our students face uncertainty, we show up. We come together as a community so that everyone feels supported and included,” said 麻豆免费高清无砖码区President Heather Shotton noting the event aligns with the college’s strategic directions around basic needs and community connections, emphasizing that the heart of the campus experience involves more than academics.
The harvest-inspired meal, prepared by Fresh Ideas dining services, featured hearty pozole, roasted squash soup, sopapillas, and cornbread. Alongside the meal, the Grub Hub hosted a pop-up market stocked with nonperishable goods, fresh produce, and locally raised meat from the Old Fort.
“We recognize the anxiety that uncertainty creates for students and families,” said Doug Ewing, interim dean of Student Engagement. “This event says to our community: we see you, we are here for you, and we will find ways to respond.”
Volunteers from across campus stepped in to serve food, greet guests, and help restock the mini-market. Faculty and staff members also had the option to contribute through payroll deductions or one-time donations and in-kind gifts to the Grub Hub.
The Grub Hub provides year-round services to students experiencing food or housing insecurity. Its offerings include free groceries, personal care items, and assistance with applications for SNAP and Medicaid benefits.
Students and employees who wish to support the effort may make a one-time gift online, set up a payroll deduction, or bring sealed and unexpired items from the Grub Hub wish list to help keep the pantry stocked.