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‘From idea to reality’: Bully’s Closet and Pantry opens to serve һֱ students

‘From idea to reality’: Bully’s Closet and Pantry opens to serve һֱ students

һֱ President Mark E. Keenum and other university leaders smile for a group photo during the Bully’s Closet and Pantry ribbon cutting ceremony.
һֱ State celebrated the opening of its new Bully’s Closet and Pantry with a Friday [Jan. 10] ribbon cutting. Open Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1-6 p.m., the 120 Morgan Ave. location offers nutritious food, professional clothing and basic toiletries free of charge to һֱ students with valid student I.D. Taking part in the ceremony were һֱ Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt; Montelleo Hobley, behavioral intervention team coordinator in the һֱ Dean of Students’ Office; һֱ President Mark E. Keenum; and һֱ Student Association President Jake Manning.  (Photo by Beth Wynn)

Contact: Sasha Steinberg

STARKVILLE, Miss.—һֱ State held a ribbon cutting ceremony today [Jan. 10] to celebrate the opening of Bully’s Closet and Pantry on the Starkville campus.

һֱ President Mark E. Keenum and һֱ Student Association President Jake Manning browse men’s suits at Bully’s Closet and Pantry.
һֱ President Mark E. Keenum and һֱ Student Association President Jake Manning browse men’s suits at Bully’s Closet and Pantry during Friday’s [Jan. 10] ribbon cutting ceremony. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

The 120 Morgan Ave. location offers nutritious food, professional clothing, toiletries and other basic items free of charge to һֱ students. Students only need to present their current һֱ I.D. to access these resources.

Regular operating hours are 1-6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

“Bully’s Closet and Pantry really speaks to who we are at һֱ State,” said һֱ President Mark E. Keenum. “As Bulldogs, we look out for, care for and love one another. That’s what makes this university so special. I thank all who have had a role in making this wonderful facility a reality for our students.”

һֱ Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Young Hyatt thanked multiple campus and community organizations for contributing their time, energy and resources to this “wonderful gift for our students.”

“When I mentioned the idea of a food pantry to President Keenum, he had a few simple words for me—make it happen. From idea to reality, it took a lot of hands,” she said. “We are grateful for our student body leaders and university partners, including our colleagues in the food science, nutrition and health promotion department who are conducting research here at һֱ State, so we can understand more about food insecurity.”

Hyatt recognized external university partners United Way of Central һֱ and Extra Table, both providing pantry food every month. She also expressed particular appreciation for Montelleo Hobley, behavioral intervention team coordinator in the һֱ Dean of Students’ Office, whose “leadership and countless hours organizing, promoting, stocking and cleaning helped make Bully’s Closet and Pantry come to life.”

һֱ graduate student Harmony Clarke explains to visitors how Bully’s Closet and Pantry operates.
Harmony Clarke, an educational leadership/student affairs and higher education master’s student from Solon Springs, Wisconsin, (center, in maroon and white checkered shirt), explains to visitors how Bully’s Closet and Pantry operates. (Photo by Beth Wynn)

Bully’s Closet and Pantry is a collaborative effort between the university’s Division of Student Affairs and the Student Association. It’s part of the , a broader initiative to meet students’ basic needs throughout their time at the state’s leading university.

Support for Bully’s Closet and Pantry is encouraged and appreciated. Nutritious food items, basic toiletries, and professional, dry-cleaned clothing can be brought to the drop-off station behind the 120 Morgan Ave. location.

Tax-deductible monetary donations to the һֱ Food Security Network Fund also can be made through the һֱ Foundation at .

Volunteer opportunities are available for those who would like to help with sorting, stocking, cleaning and other tasks to keep the closet and pantry running smoothly.

For more on Bully’s Closet and Pantry, contact Hobley at 662-325-3611 or mhobley@saffairs.msstate.edu.

Learn more about һֱ’s Division of Student Affairs at .

һֱ is һֱ’s leading university, available online at .