3 law students launch food pantry to help feed hungry classmates
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Three law students at the University of Hawaii’s law school are launching a food pantry to help classmates who are going hungry.
Many law students have to be cautious in their spending, especially at the end of the semester, when loans distributed at the start of the semester are running low, Honolulu Civil Beat reported last month. A campus meal plan can be expensive, and it may not be convenient for law students who have a long commute to campus.
“It is a lot of time to go to the grocery store, figure out what it is we’re going to get, how much we’re going to spend, [wonder] do we even have that much to spend?” said Kelly Kwan, a 24-year-old 1L helping spearhead the effort, in an interview with Honolulu Civil Beat.
The students planned to open the food pantry during winter break at CJ’s Cubby, the law student lounge. The pantry will carry items like rice, beans or quinoa for students to take home. The lounge will also be stocked with healthy snacks and breakfast foods for students to eat during the day.
The students collected about $1,000 from alumni and law lecturers to start the pantry and provide food for students before final exams. The pantry will also receive $150 per semester from the University of Hawaii Student Bar Association. The students also hope to find a law firm sponsor each month for funds.
Andrea Freeman, a law professor at the University of Hawaii, said she focuses on food policy.
“Food security is a problem across all ages and stages of life,” she told Honolulu Civil Beat. “It’s not something that affects [just] young people or students.”
Hat tip to @ABAEsq.
