La Roche University Expands Food Pantry to Address Campus Food Insecurity

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 9, 2026 – La Roche University has expanded and relocated its Food Pantry, which received more than 15,000 pounds of food from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank during its first three months in the new space. The University will celebrate the opening Tuesday, Oct. 13, with an open house from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Now one of the largest collegiate food pantries in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the expanded Food Pantry is located in the Zappala Campus Center Annex and provides students, faculty, and staff with nutritious food, personal-care and household items, and connections to campus and community resources in a welcoming, confidential setting.

The Oct. 13 open house will showcase the new space, recognize community partners, and highlight the Food Pantry’s impact. Media are invited to attend.

The expanded Food Pantry includes two refrigeration units, a freezer, a dedicated food-preparation area for recovered food items, and 10 new stainless-steel shelving units. A new database system also allows the University to better understand usage, identify needs, and plan for future growth.

The need for the resource is already evident. The Food Pantry served 167 unique individuals during July, August, and September, with July representing only two weeks of operation.

“Our Food Pantry is a powerful example of La Roche’s culture of care,” said Christina A. Clark, Ph.D., president of La Roche University. “Students should be able to focus on learning, growing, and preparing for their futures, not worrying about their next meal. By providing access to food and personal care products in a welcoming and confidential environment, we are helping our students feel supported, valued, and ready to thrive.”

The Food Pantry’s expansion has been supported through a partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and two impact grants. Community partners also help provide food and essential items. Panera Bread donates recovered baked goods twice each week, SAGE Dining Services provides ready-to-eat meals weekly, and World Vision supplies personal-care items and socks. I Support the Girls Pittsburgh and the Magdalen Chapel parish community also contribute.

Open to La Roche students, faculty, and staff, the Food Pantry is designed to make assistance accessible and confidential. Flexible access options accommodate those whose schedules do not align with traditional operating hours.

The Food Pantry was established in 2018 after staff members from Providence Campus Ministry, Counseling and Health Services, Student Life, and Residence Life recognized that hunger was affecting some students’ ability to focus on their education. Today, the Food Pantry operates through the Ketteler Center for Peace, Justice, and Inclusion, extending the University’s mission of responding to the needs of others through service and community engagement.

For more information, please visit the La Roche University Food Pantry website.

About La Roche University: An independent liberal arts university in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, La Roche University offers undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs with particular strengths in education, business, criminal justice, cybersecurity and forensics, psychology, nursing, and health and medical sciences as well as interior architecture & design and graphic design. This residential university provides a vibrant campus community for women and men enjoying multiple student organizations and an exciting NCAA Div. III athletics program. Founded by the Sisters of Divine Providence in 1963, La Roche University embraces its Catholic heritage while welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. With a legacy of social justice and a commitment to international exchange, La Roche University educates students to be lifelong learners and achievers in an increasingly diverse and global society.

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