SNAC mobile pantry continues community outreach
From aiding 46 families in May 2025 to 241 families in November 2025, the Utah State University Student Nutrition Access Center Mobile Food Pantry is continuing to grow their community outreach efforts and assist Cache Valley community members in need.
The SNAC hosts a Mobile Food Pantry event each month in the Maverik Stadium parking lot. There are both drive-through and walk-up options available to those picking up food from the events.
These events are open to all USU students and Cache Valley community members in need. An income verification form must be completed, but no ID or other documents are required.
“It’s easy to get to and it’s free,” said Shelby Scott, a first-year student at USU studying biochemistry.
While currently most attendees are Cache Valley community members, USU students in need are also invited to go to the events to receive nutritious food options.
“We are trying to get the word out to students a little bit more, too, that they are welcome to come,” said Kaiah Thomas, SNAC student director and a USU senior studying dietetics.
Each household receives a selection of food items such as fresh produce, dairy products, bread, cereal and shelf-stable goods. The available items vary by month based on donations.
“Typically, those distributions have a lot more fresh food than you’ll find in a normal food pantry,” Thomas said.
The mobile pantry program in Logan is a product of Thomas’ capstone project. It is a way to expand food accessibility to Cache County.
After reassessing data in February 2025, it was found that Cache County had a higher need for food to meet the needs of its food insecure population. Since the opening of Logan’s mobile food pantry, over 241 families have been aided with nutritional resources.
“Seeing how much of a need there is and being able to be a way of hopefully filling that need a little bit — I think that’s probably the biggest way I’ve seen it help,” Thomas said.
As the program expands, so does its need for volunteers.
Volunteering consists of loading food into people’s cars, directing traffic, helping with cleanup and other hands-on related tasks. Additionally, donations help to provide food for the mobile pantry.
“We rely heavily on volunteers at the mobile pantry,” Thomas said. “Volunteering with the mobile pantries is definitely a huge help to us and just a way to give back to the community, too.”
SNAC partners with the Utah Food Bank in Salt Lake City to supply enough food for the monthly event and also accepts donations, along with local organizations like the Cache Valley Food Pantry.
The 2026 mobile food pantry dates are as follows: Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 15, Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 15.
More information can be found on the SNAC Instagram at @ususnac.