Stony Brook University’s Seawolves Pantry continues to address food insecurity among students, staff, and faculty by providing access to healthy food and basic necessities. Established in 2013, the pantry offers a range of items including nutritious foods, school supplies, hygiene products, and cooking utensils.
Ashley Liegi, assistant director for the Department of Student Community Development, highlighted the partnership with Empire State Service Corps: “We serve as a host site for Empire State Service Corps students both at the Seawolves Pantry and Center for Civic Justice.” The corps focuses on areas such as food insecurity/SNAP basic needs, civic engagement, early childhood education, FAFSA completion, K-12 education, peer mental health support, student success coaching, sustainability initiatives, and Veterans Affairs outreach. The current group includes 29 students.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of these efforts. “No one should go hungry or have to endure additional stress because the food assistance they expect and deserve is being used as a bargaining chip,” said Hochul on November 6. “Our state is stepping up: the Empire State Service Corps provides SUNY students with civic engagement opportunities to serve their communities, and during the crisis I am proud that these students are ready to help our most vulnerable.”
The initiative encourages students to work alongside SUNY staff at regional food pantries or provide services at campus-based facilities. SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. stated: “The dedicated SUNY students who participate in the Empire State Service Corps program serve our state in a multitude of civic engagement opportunities, and they are ready to step up in this food insecurity crisis.”
Katie McCombs oversees much of the work done by Empire State Service Corps members at Stony Brook University. The main pantry operates from the Student Union with additional locations in the Student Activities Center and LGBTQ Center.
McCombs shared her motivation: “I got involved with the Pantry because I have always been passionate about ensuring that any student regardless of status has the means to succeed,” she said. “I have always wanted to work in a position that had a palpable impact on people. While at times things may be stressful, it is truly rewarding to see the ways in which my efforts have impacted others.”
More than 20 volunteers assist visitors directly while service corps members handle operations behind-the-scenes such as processing donations and managing inventory. Liegi explained their role: “Our Empire State Service Course students are integral to our ability to manage our three Seawolves Pantry locations on campus... They are responsible for processing donations from our generous on and off campus partners, maintaining a diverse inventory of goods, and coming up with strategies to make sure that we’re feeding as many students, staff, and faculty as we can who are experiencing basic needs insecurity on campus.”
Last year saw nearly 7,000 visits from about 900 individuals; this year’s numbers are expected to match or exceed those figures.
Services offered include SNAP consultations for application assistance as well as programs focused on fresh food distribution and reducing waste through partnerships like Stony Brook’s Auxiliary Services Association (ASA). Liegi noted: “We are incredibly grateful for our ongoing partnership with ASA and SBU Eats...our Empire State Service Corps students work closely with these partners to reduce food waste on campus by picking up fresh food donations that we are then able to provide to our pantry users.”
Service corps participants also develop personal projects related to food security or other basic needs issues. Trinity Zou ’26 connects her experience growing up reliant on community donations with her current project linking oral health and access to nutrition: “Growing up, my grandparents relied heavily on food pantries and community donations,” she said. “I grew up eating pantry staples and canned goods. These experiences taught me that even when food options are limited, meals can still bring comfort and joy. I wanted to bring that same sense of dignity and enjoyment to others facing food insecurity.” She added: “Every day I get to see how donations directly impact students’ lives...Being part of this community has shown me how small acts of care can make a big difference.”
The pantry began in a residence hall before moving under Student Community Development management in 2020. This year marks its first collaboration hosting paid positions through Empire State Service Corps—a change Liegi called significant: “In the past our operation predominantly functioned with support of student volunteers...this is the first year that we’ve served as a host site for the Empire State Service Corps...It has been an incredible program for us...it’s really beneficial to be able pay students help us do this important work.”
At Stony Brook Southampton’s campus FoodLab donates farm produce weekly via Heart of the Hamptons distribution events held Fridays from 10 am–12 pm.