Blog, Features
About Colin Taylor
Executive Board Position: Treasurer
Past Lion’s Pantry Experience: Manager (2022-23)
Majors: Accounting
Minors: Information Systems Management
Other 2023-2024 Involvement:
A Q&A with Colin
1) What are you most excited about The Lion’s Pantry this year?
- I am excited to help grow the Pantry and spread awareness about it.
2) What initiatives, campaigns, or goals would you like to see during the 2023-24 academic year?
- I want to improve our data collection to inform us about popular food items and help improve the ordering process.
3) Why should new students join The Lion’s Pantry?
- The Lion’s Pantry is a great way to make a difference in the local community. Anyone who is a Penn State student can visit The Lion’s Pantry to grab some food. Volunteering is fun, and the work is pretty easy.
4) What does food insecurity mean to you?
- Food insecurity is common around the country, but it is especially high around colleges. Being able to help provide food to college students is important to me.
5) What excites you most about the position you hold for The Lion’s Pantry during the 2023-24 year?
- I am excited to work with the team to help improve the pantry. The Lion’s Pantry is relatively new and has been rapidly growing.
6) Please share one of your favorite memories from The Lion’s Pantry.
- One of the things I like about The Lion’s Pantry is meeting new people. Whether I make a connection with a pantry guest or a team member, I am always meeting someone new.
Some Fun Facts About Colin
Favorite Comfort TV Show: Curb your Enthusiasm
Favorite Way to Unwind After a Long Day: I like to play poker with my friends.
“Go-To” Fun Fact: I like to play tennis.
Blog, Features
About Juan-Rodrigo Solares
Executive Board Position: Vice President
Past Lion’s Pantry Experience: Pantry Manager & Cub Pantry Coordinator
Majors: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minors: Microbiology
Other 2023-2024 Involvement:
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair – Lion Ambassadors
- Millennium Scholar Program Tutor
- Undergraduate Researcher at Joyce Jose Lab
A Q&A with Rodrigo
1) What are you most excited about The Lion’s Pantry this year?
- I am very excited for all the amazing and new things that we will do this year. I think we have a great team, and I am very excited to be working on some new projects that we have been working on.
2) What initiatives, campaigns, or goals would you like to see during the 2023-24 academic year?
- I would like to see more food drives and more food insecurity awareness events. In my opinion, I think raising awareness is a very crucial thing, and I think that as an organization that focuses a lot on combatting the issue, we should also dedicate our time on educating people about the issue.
3) Why should new students join The Lion’s Pantry?
- The Lion’s Pantry is an amazing organization as it has a great mission: help students. You get to play a huge part on a resource that a lot of students on campus use, and ultimately, you are working for a great cause. You can also meet a lot of great people who have the same motivation and drive as you towards combatting food insecurity.
4) What does food insecurity mean to you?
- Food insecurity for me means a big issue. It is ultimately a lack of access to foods due to someone’s economic situation. As students, we have a heavy workload, and having the stress of not knowing when your next meal is going to come is ultimately a big burden. Combatting this issue is important as everyone deserves to have a healthy life, one where they have access to food and a healthy lifestyle.
5) What excites you most about the position you hold for The Lion’s Pantry during the 2023-24 year?
- For the 2023-2024 year, I will be the vice president of the organization. The thing that excites me the most is having the capability of joining and conducting different projects and initiatives while helping the president. Due to the flexibility of my position, I can also assist on multiple things and help the rest of the exec board. Having this ability of playing an important part in the organization is something that is very important for me.
6) Please share one of your favorite memories from The Lion’s Pantry.
- My favorite memories were the workdays we had last year. They were always a lot of fun, and it was very worthwhile seeing how organized the pantry became every Sunday after each workday. Knowing that the work we put in helped a lot of students during the last academic year made it more worthwhile.
Some Fun Facts About Rodrigo
Favorite Comfort Movie: Grey’s Anatomy
Favorite Way to Unwind After a Long Day: Reading a book, hanging out with friends, and drinking a something sweet
“Go-To” Fun Fact: My Go-To fact is that I used to do horseback riding.
Blog, Features
We would like to welcome to The Lion’s Pantry team, Ben Lindgren! Ben will be serving as our AmeriCorp Member this summer. Be sure to say, “Hello!” to Ben during your next visit to The Lion’s Pantry.
About Ben Lindgren
Position: AmeriCorps Member
Former Volunteer or Occupational Experience:
- High School’s Student Council Service Committee and Food Drive Director
- UPUA At-Large Representative
- Students United Against Poverty Ambassador
- Student Farm Club Member
- Whole Foods Market Cashier
Major: International Politics & Criminology
Q&A with Ben
1. What are you most looking forward to about your position?
I look forward to working with like-minded individuals at Penn State while finding new connections between the organizations I am passionate about. It is such an honor to do this work that I love through the federal organization of AmeriCorps! As a rising second-year student, I am thrilled to learn more about the operations of the pantry and to assist with its expansion and implementation of new projects.
2. What tasks will you be completing through your position as our AmeriCorp Member?
I will be working on a standardized operations manual for the Lion’s Pantry that can also be utilized at various Commonwealth campuses. I will also be assisting with leading volunteer workdays at the Lion’s Pantry, presenting at various events regarding student poverty and the Lion’s Pantry, conducting research with the Office of Student Care and Advocacy, and establishing new programs with the Student Farm.
3. What are you most excited about working with The Lion’s Pantry this year?
I am thrilled to see the implementation of new operations procedures at the pantry that I will assist with while also fostering new connections with affiliate university organizations (e.g. the Student Farm, Students United Against Poverty, and the University Park Undergraduate Association). I also can’t wait to meet some of the awesome students that assist with operating the Pantry!
4. What does food insecurity mean to you, and why do you view it as an important cause?
Food insecurity can truly affect all aspects of one’s daily life. College students, like those here at Penn State, may struggle with their academics, social life, and extracurriculars due to this incredibly challenging problem. It is the responsibility of all of us at Penn State to ensure that each individual has access to not only food, but quality, nutritious food products that enhance one’s overall well-being.
5. What is your go-to fun fact?
I have visited over ten national parks!
Blog, Features, Uncategorized
Major: BBH and Psychology
Lion’s Pantry Experience: Shift Manager 2021, Intern 2022-2023
Other Penn State Involvement: Public Relations Chair for Minorities in the College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), Research Assistant, member of the African Student Association (ASA)
Post-Graduation Plans: Attending Temple University to obtain my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
What has your experience at The Lion’s Pantry taught you?
My experience at The Lion’s Pantry has taught me how much I love to help others and give back to the Penn State Community.
What would you want freshmen and new students to know about The Lion’s Pantry?
Take advantage of the free resources that are provided just for you! I wish someone would have told me about The Lions Pantry my freshman year.
What Lion’s Pantry accomplishment are you most proud of?
Holding office hours and working on the Amazon Wishlist!
Please share a favorite memory from working at The Lion’s Pantry.
My favorite memory at Lion’s Pantry was Canstruction 2022.
Blog, Event, Lion's Pantry News, Recipes, Uncategorized
The Lion’s Pantry is proud to release our first recipe book called The Pantry Pal, containing submissions from Penn State community members. The recipe book contains sections like Breakfast For Champions, Appetizers, Quick & Easy Dinners, and Delicious Desserts. This version also contains how-to guides, conversion charts, and more to help our fellow Penn Staters.
Find the PDF version of our 2023 Recipe Book here!
