Students on this Fort Worth college campus have a better solution if they’re going hungry
Students at Tarleton State University in Fort Worth now have a better option to address food insecurity.
MW Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DFW-based MW Logistics, partnered with the school to upgrade and sponsor its existing pantry to become The Purple Pantry.
Tartleton State’s pantry started as a grassroots effort in 2015 as a closet at the school’s campus in Stephenville. It was run by faculty and staff members to provide food and snacks to students. After the Fort Worth campus broke ground in Fall 2024, the Campus Administration Building became another location for a pantry outside of the Stephenville campus.
The pantry was at first a half refrigerator and freezer combination with four metal racks, stocked with a limited variety of food until it was moved to a larger space last summer.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony held in January unveiled renovations, which included a full-size glass refrigerator and freezer, nine wire shelves, two baker’s racks, and a fresh produce display table. It also includes a privacy glass and an automated entry system, allowing students to scan their ID, privately enter and leave without supervision.
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Students had typically used the pantry on a weekly to monthly basis, but, since the upgrades, the school has seen an increased number of daily visits, according to Isabel Talamantes, case manager of student resources, and the Purple Pantry.
“This progression reflects our commitment to continuously improving the support we offer to students and ensuring that food resources are both easily accessible and aligned with the growing needs of our campus community to better provide an exceptional student experience,” said Talamantes in a prepared statement.
Food insecurity is defined as the lack of access to food or quality of food to meet on basic needs. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, about 3.8 million college students experienced food insecurity in 2020.
Enrollment at the Tartleton State Fort Worth campus was 2,524 in the fall of 2024 and is expected to grow.
Food insecurity creates a combination of issues, from financial constraints, lack of access to affordable nutritious food, social and emotional stress, and affects the academic performance of college students, according to Talamantes.
Pamela Wills-Ward, chief people and strategy officer of MW Logistics, reflected on how her husband, Mitchell Ward, grew up in a household where putting food on the table was sometimes a struggle. People shouldn’t have to choose between their dignity and getting help, Wills-Ward said.
MW Cares Foundation has helped other local organizations such as the Tarrant Area Food Bank and The Big Good, an organization founded by artist Leon Bridges and Gary and Kelsey Patterson to help with unmet needs in the community.
Hunger shouldn’t interfere with furthering your education, Wills-Ward said.
“We’re trying to help lift up people so they can can achieve their goals,” Wills-Ward said. “Food is a basic insecurity, and it was just one of those places where I thought I wouldn’t want to see my own children struggling.”
