Soup’s on, following donation to Student Food Pantry

(Ashland, Ore.) - Organic food company Amy's Kitchen, which operates a manufacturing plant in nearby White City, has made one of the largest-ever donations to Southern Oregon University's Student Food Pantry - a total of 1,200 cans of vegan soup.

The donated food - 50 cases each of Amy's Indian Golden Lentil and Alphabet soup - will be added to the food pantry's inventory throughout the 2024-25 academic year. Each case of the soup contains 12 cans.

"The soup will be fed in (to the pantry's shelves) gradually, to meet the demand of the students," said Jason Piazza, benefits navigator for the SOU Dean of Students Office. "We will go through it before the end of the academic year."

Piazza said discussions with Amy's Kitchen have included the likelihood of future food donations. The Petaluma, California-based company has donated more than 300,000 pounds of organic food to at least 17 food banks and other organizations - including SOU and two other universities - so far in 2024.

"We're proud to have partnered with incredible organizations across North America to address food insecurity for communities in need," the company posted recently on its social media channels, pointing out that September is celebrated as both Organic Month and Hunger Action Month.

Amy's Kitchen remains a family-owned business, founded in 1987 by Andy and Rachel Berliner and named for their daughter, Amy. The company has processing plants in White City; Santa Rosa, California; and Pocatello, Idaho; making more than 250 organic, vegan or vegetarian products.

The SOU Student Food Pantry provides food and other necessities to students in need. First-time clients must fill out an intake form and provide their student ID numbers, then can stop by the pantry at Room 312 of the Stevenson Union to receive as many as 10 non-perishable food items, occasional perishable food items and unlimited personal hygiene products each week, as long as they are enrolled at SOU. Those with questions can email the food pantry at [email protected]. The pantry is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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