Stocked for Success

Food Pantry Lockers Help Nursing Students Balance School and Family Life

For nursing students juggling classes, clinical rotations, work and family responsibilities, having basic necessities within easy reach can go a long way. 

At the Hunt School of Nursing, a new student resource locker is helping students access food, diapers and baby formula while providing privacy and convenience. 

“Our students need flexible access to food pantry items beyond regular business hours,” said Jené Hurlbut, Ph.D., R.N., CNE, interim dean of the Hunt School of Nursing. “Expanding access beyond the traditional workday allows our students to retrieve essential items at times that better accommodate their academic and clinical commitments.”

The initiative also provides emergency financial assistance, mental health and wellness services, and outreach to students from foster-home backgrounds. It was funded through a $250,000 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The locker unit includes 14 compartments of varying sizes, including refrigerated lockers for perishable items. Students can retrieve supplies daily between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. using secure access codes. 

For nursing student Samantha Gonzalez, the lockers eased some of the pressure that comes with balancing nursing school and family life. While expecting her second child and raising a toddler at home, Gonzalez said access to diapers, wipes and other essentials has made a meaningful difference for her family. 

“You have a family, groceries, bills, a mortgage payment, car payments — it’s hard,” Gonzalez said. “Being able to get diapers, wipes and formula means a lot.”