Basic Needs, Wildcat Pantry continue expanding access for all CWU students

Helping students make the most of their time at Central Washington University starts with ensuring their access to basic, everyday needs like nutritious food and a roof over their heads.

To this end, CWU has been innovating and expanding our offerings through the Basic Needs office and the Wildcat Pantry, two on-campus resources designed to meet students where they are, and help them get to where they’re going.

Both departments are managed by former CWU students, with the Wildcat Pantry being overseen by Coordinator Charles Johnson and Basic Needs by Resource Coordinator Kelly Boozer. They both operate out of the President’s Division and are supervised by Chief of Staff Dania Cochran, who has watched the programs grow and evolve under Johnson and Boozer’s leadership.

“It’s been incredible to see it grow from a small operation with a single coordinator to these two enthusiastic teammates who complement each other so well,” Cochran said. “It’s amazing to have a team that takes their work so seriously; who take ownership of it and lead the charge on what they know is the clear way forward for our students.”

The Wildcat Pantry, an on-campus food pantry that offers necessities to students out of Brooks Library and at mini-pantries across campus, started out as a student-run club before receiving state funding in 2023 and expanding into the large-scale operation it is today. Johnson oversees a team of seven student employees and uses his personal experience with food insecurity on campus to assist in guiding his programming decisions.

“I’m constantly considering what students might need and want based on the season and what’s going on in the world,” he said. “For example, in the fall, we like to stock warm, cozy meals, and the produce I buy lends itself well to soups and casseroles. Having utilized the pantry myself as a student, I have the privilege of seeing the students’ perspective, which I use to make sure the pantry is supplying nutritious foods that fulfill and excite our students.”

Johnson sees the pantry as a catalyst for sparking a love of cooking among the student population, helping ease stress over food insecurity in the process.

“We’re always focusing on how we can bring students together and encourage them to get active in their own kitchens,” he said. “We’re giving students supplies for meals they can make on their own time, while also bringing them into our space and providing them with flexible shopping times to ensure access for everyone.”

While working to provide for his fellow Wildcats, Johnson also emphasizes the importance of the experience his student workers are receiving at the pantry, giving them the latitude they need to be creative in their work. This approach has led to a full slate of student-centered programming, helping them put together everything from charcuterie boards to Halloween treat bags.

“I always tell my students that a college job is more than a college job; it’s an opportunity-builder for your future,” Johnson said. “I’m always looking for ways to give them the experience that employers are looking for, and the skills they themselves want to develop. That means giving them freedom to explore in their positions. Other than Second Harvest, every event this winter has been planned start to finish by them.”

Boozer graduated from CWU in 2013, and has been living in Ellensburg ever since, volunteering her time with Aspen Victim Services until the opportunity to join the CWU Financial Aid team turned up in 2022. With a passion for social work front and center, Boozer soon pivoted to the Basic Needs Coordinator position to apply her years of relevant experience in a community that had given so much to her.

“Social work is really my bread and butter,” Boozer said. “I love helping people. Being able to be there for people who are in need is my niche, and I hope to be able to work myself out of a job wherever I’m at.”

At the Basic Needs office, Boozer helps students experiencing financial distress navigate the several sources of funding available to alleviate that pressure and help them complete their degrees. She has seen a steady increase in the number of students requesting assistance, indicating a growing need across the university.

“We’re all seeing a lot of growth in the use of our services, as opposed to the decline that we would like,” Boozer said. “While we’re here to be a permanent resource for students, ideally no students should be facing the kinds of food and financial insecurities that lead them to our office.”

With student needs always changing, Boozer is working to evolve the Basic Needs office’s offerings right alongside them.

“There’s so much funding out there that doesn’t get utilized because navigating the application processes can be daunting for students and their families,” she said. “I hope to build out our capacity to help them seek those extra sources of assistance like SNAP, WIC, and EBT.”

Both the Wildcat Pantry and the Basic Needs office are funded through the state, as well as donations through the CWU Foundation and the basic needs fee paid as part of student tuition. With both programs ramping up their efforts in response to increasing food and financial insecurity nationwide, Cochran is grateful for the work of Johnson and Boozer, two student-centered professionals working hard to ensure access and opportunity for everyone.

“I’m very grateful that I get to work with Kelly and Charles, and I love that they’re based out of the President’s Division,” Cochran said. “It sends a clear message from us all that this work matters, and we’ll keep looking for new sources of funding and resources, and sharing our data to help people see that this work is important to our future.”