Feeding America brings 24/7 food lockers to Fox Valley Tech. Here’s what to know.

GRAND CHUTE — Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin is expanding its programs in the Fox Valley by adding 24/7 access to meals for college students through a new food locker system.

So far, around 50 students have used the 24 newly installed lockers, which allow them to order food online and pick it up on campus. This comes with an investment from Fox Valley Technical College of $100,000.

The lockers, the first of their kind in northeastern Wisconsin, sit near the south parking lot of the college’s campus in Grand Chute, just west of Appleton.

The area is easily accessible to students throughout the day. No matter the weather, the temperature-controlled lockers ensure food items remain fresh, and students can place orders anytime through a simple online platform.

Here is what to know about the project.

Why are food lockers being installed on Fox Valley Tech’s campus?

These lockers aim to address food insecurity among college students, and on-campus food pantries have sprung up at universities across the country.

A survey released earlier this year by Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice showed that nearly 45% of the nearly 86,000 student respondents from 123 two- and four-year institutions across the United States said they had been food insecure in the past 30 days.

“We have lots of students who are experiencing food insecurity with having full-time jobs, trying to keep their grades up, and trying to make a living,” said Dominic Tesch, one of 50 Fox Valley Technical College students who started using Order Ahead last month.

At the college, 78 students already rely on the campus food pantry weekly. However, the pantry’s resources are limited, depending on donations and the school budget.

Partnering with Feeding America allows to support more students in need, said Tesch, 27, who is juggling two jobs while pursuing an Associate of Arts degree. He ordered bread, milk, meats, and some cereal and cooked on his own, he added.

What does the food locker program provide to students?

Students can choose from perishable and non-perishable items, which are procured, packed, and delivered to the lockers by Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, said Cameron Wengrzyn, the nonprofit’s director of market and communication.

The non-profit plans to expand the food locker program across its 35-county footprint, ensuring the food distribution system meets people’s needs. The distribution model allows for flexibility in where food is distributed, including clinics, traditional food pantries, community centers, and food deserts, said Patti Habeck, president and CEO of Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin.

The nonprofit hopes to expand, but it depends on finding partners and funding for lockers, Wengrzyn said.

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin provides 34 million pounds of food each year, via its partner pantries and programs, to more than 24,000 families in Wisconsin’s 35 eastern counties, according to data from its 2023 annual report.

You can help by donating your time or by making a financial donation.

Editor’s note: USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and The Post-Crescent partner annually with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin on the Stock the Shelves campaign in October. This reporting is separate from that partnership.

Zhen Wang is a business reporter for The Post-Crescent. Reach her with story tips and feedback at zwang@gannett.com or 920-993-7117.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Feeding America brings food lockers to Fox Valley Technical College