New Cardinal Cupboard Manager Launches New Initiatives, Enhances Offerings

When she started her in her role as, among other things, manager of the SUNY Plattsburgh food shelf, Hakima Bachar saw a gap in hair product selections for students of color.

While there were many shampoos and conditioners in the Cardinal Cupboard, the student outreach and support coordinator in the Office of Access and Opportunity Programs and 2021 alumna of SUNY Plattsburgh’s social work program made note of the lack of products that she herself uses.

“We’ve gotten a lot of good responses from the few products that we’ve already implemented so far” like hair oil, edge control and deep conditioners, Bachar said. “A lot of students have really liked it.”

But it was not enough.

Bachar, who took over as manager of the food shelf in August, initially purchased the haircare products from the limited supply at Walmart, where much of the Cupboard’s inventory is purchased. She said she plans to search different stores around Plattsburgh to find a wider variety to add to the Cupboard's shelves.

Additionally, students will find a variety of new offerings such as a selection pots, pans, cutlery and cups for students, as well as a newly ordered refrigerator that students can access for orders afterhours using a PIN.

Now Open to All Students

The Cardinal Cupboard, located in the back corner of Burghy’s Den, is now open to all students, not just those who live off campus.

The goal is to remove as many barriers as possible so students can access the food, products and services they need, Bachar said.

“It’s really meeting them where they’re at and trying to see how to help,” she said. “Every student is different, and every situation is different, so now we’re gearing it to that.”

During the 2023-2024 academic year, the food pantry filled 1,077 orders from 387 students. To accomplish that, the pantry spent more than $18,000 on food and personal-care items. The campus community as well as donations to the Plattsburgh College Foundation help fund the food shelf; food and personal-care products are also accepted, Bachar said.

‘Supports Academic Success’

Ensuring students have their basic needs met is crucial to their academic and personal success in college, Bachar said.

“It’s something that students should have available to them, so it (food insecurity) doesn’t affect their academic performance” or mental health, she said.

“Those avoidable things like not being able to focus on schoolwork because you haven’t had a meal or you’re hungry — that’s not something that I feel like a student should be worrying about. If we’re able to help in those situations, it will make a big difference.”

‘Feels Good to Help Students’

Senior Isabella Johnston worked in the Cardinal Cupboard filling orders over the summer.

“I also had friends who I told about the services because they were struggling, and they told me how much of a difference it made to be able to have milk and eggs,” the ecology major said. “It does feel good to be helping students on campus who need the assistance.”

Bachar said she wants to get feedback from students so she can stock the foods they like. She said she recently learned most students prefer whole milk to 2 percent.

Johnston, who is from Schenectady, said students who are vegetarian or have a special diet can work with the pantry to meet their needs.

“Hakima has been very flexible with that where she has offered a variety of options for them to choose from” within the ordering system, Johnston said.

Placing an Order

In addition to food, the pantry stocks menstrual products, deodorant, body lotion, toothbrushes, shaving cream and razors, dish soap, laundry detergent and more.

To place an order, students can go to the “Making Ends Meet” webpage and click “Cardinal Cupboard” and the order form. From there, they can view photos of each product, add it to their cart and check out free of charge.

There’s no approval process, and students receive pickup instructions via email, Bachar said. Students can place one order per week.

During the semester, the Cardinal Cupboard is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Emergency Financial Assistance

Bachar doesn’t just manage the Cardinal Cupboard.

She connects students to various resources, including the Student Emergency Assistance Program, which provides qualifying students with up to $1,000 per year for emergency expenses like utility bills, emergency travel expenses, school supplies, childcare and expenses resulting from homelessness or domestic violence.

Students can apply for emergency assistance grants on the same webpage with the link to the Cardinal Cupboard order form.

‘Holistic’ Services, Not Just Food

As the campus homeless liaison, Bachar also matches students experiencing homelessness to services.

“It’s a really holistic thing for students, not just food,” she said of her position.

Some students may qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Bachar can refer them to a local coordinator who offers one-on-one help applying for benefits.

In her talks with students, if she identifies another need they have like academic tutoring, for instance, she can refer them to resources like those offered by the Learning Center. She will direct students who need free, gently used professional attire to the Career Closet, managed by the Career Development Center.

Students who need free over-the-counter pain relievers, allergy medicine, bandages, condoms and more can visit the shelves just inside the doors of the Student Health and Counseling Center.

Pantry History, International Spices

While SUNY campuses were mandated in 2018 to establish food pantries, Dr. Michele Carpentier, who retired as director of special programs and assistant vice president for enrollment and student success in 2023, saw the need much earlier and started a food shelf at SUNY Plattsburgh around 2014.

It’s continued to expand since then.

As a student from New York City whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Morocco, Bachar said it was hard to find spices that tasted like home while she was a SUNY Plattsburgh student.

So, she was happy to see that the Cardinal Cupboard’s former manager incorporated international spices into the pantry’s offerings.

“It’s so helpful to bring that sense of home for people here,” Bachar said.

Raising Awareness, Fighting Stigma

The Cardinal Cupboard was one of many student services offices with a table set up in the field house gymnasium during move-in week check-in so new students could learn about offerings and get their questions answered.

“If you don’t need it, someone else might need it,” she said, so getting the information into students’ hands that they’re available is crucial.

The awareness is important both so students who need the service know it’s there and to fight stigma by normalizing food assistance on campus, she said.

With the renovated Halal Shack now open in Burghy’s Den, the student workers and Bachar will ask students for feedback when they pick up their orders to ensure they feel comfortable picking up their items in a high-traffic location, she said.

“This is their home away from home, so anything we can do to help make it more comfortable for them and have them stay here (in college), that’s what I want to do,” she said.

For Help or More Information

Students interested in free and confidential prescreening or help applying for SNAP benefits can contact Clinton County Nutrition Outreach and Education Program Coordinator Mandy Beaudin at The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York at 518-563-4022 Ext. 112 or [email protected].

They can also apply for SNAP directly at the Clinton County Department of Social Services, 13 Durkee St., Plattsburgh, 518-565-3330 or online at www.mybenefits.ny.gov.

The Cardinal Cupboard accepts monetary, food and personal-care item donations. Learn how to donate money on the Making Ends Meet webpage. Those donating items can email Bachar to set up a drop-off time or leave them outside the door if the pantry is closed. For more information about the Cardinal Cupboard, contact Bachar at 518-564-3811 or [email protected].

— Story, Photos by Assistant Director of Communications Felicia Krieg