Welcome to The Lion’s Pantry Blog
Thank you for stopping by! Here we will be posting words from our executive team, pantry clients, and updates about the organization.
As our first post I’d like you to get to know me a little more. My name is Tiana Williams, and I am currently serving as the Lion’s Pantry President. I’m from Philadelphia, PA. I grew up in West Philadelphia for the first 10 years of my life and have moved around all across the city since then. My favorite food is sushi and my zodiac sign is Cancer.
My interest in working with Lion’s Pantry stems from my own struggle dealing with food security, not only in my childhood but also while here at Penn State. I know what it’s like to go to bed hungry, to be excited to go to school because I knew I would eat, and to stretch meals that shouldn’t be stretched just so that I could eat everyday. That silent struggle to be a normal, functioning student and still pursue my dreams is not easy.
I’ve made a point to pursue opportunities that allow me to reach out and help those that may otherwise be overlooked. Whether that be through farming and providing fresh produce to people, learning about food systems and community development in my classes, or working with the Lion’s Pantry, my passion is to bring food to people–with fairness and compassion at the forefront of my service.
Not only is the Lion’s Pantry providing a necessary resource to students at the University Park campus, it is building a community of support for students who are stigmatized and undetectable. By existing as a resource we are reaching out to students and saying “You are welcome here. We care about your struggles and will support you through them.”
One the greatest things about being at a large campus like University Park is the wealth of resources and opportunities to make sure students feel safe and accepted. I am happy to be a part of an organization that breaks down the stigma of food insecurity as a community that aims to serve.
