26 | MAY 14 • 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues
to disrupt daily life, hundreds of
Michigan State University students
and families are relying on the MSU
Student Food Bank for sustenance and
emotional support.
Unsurprisingly, the MSU community
has rallied. Contributions of time
and resources from across campus
resulted in serving more than 750
MSU students and families and an
additional 150 community members
in local shelters during a single
weekend in March.
Chefs from MSU Culinary Services and
the Spartan Hospitality Group helped
with preparation and distribution
plans after Residential and Hospitality
Services stepped in with surplus food
from cafeterias.
“There was no reason to let that food
go to waste when it could be given to
people in need,” says Vennie Gore, vice
president for MSU Auxiliary Enterprises.
“We recognize many students rely
on the university for more than just
education. For some, we also represent
a safe space to live with reliable meal
service. Taking measures to keep our
community healthy and safe during an
outbreak doesn’
t mean we stop being
a resource for our students.”
Due to the need for increased social
distancing, food bank services are
now being offered through 20-minute
appointments. As a result, the food
bank is continuing to serve about 24
individuals and families daily.
CREATING A
SPARTAN SAFETY NET
Meanwhile, many Spartans
are reaching out to University
Catch up on the latest from MSU
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Explore giving opportunities
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Learn more about alumni participation
alumni.msu.edu
Your comments are welcome. Write to Michigan
State University, 408 W. Circle Drive, Room 302,
East Lansing, MI 48824 or call (517) 355-7505.
“
J
Advancement to ask how to help those
in the MSU community who may be
struggling during the pandemic.
The Support Our Spartans Student
Emergency Needs Fund is one of
several ongoing funds providing
critical support for students. Right now,
it is helping students who have lost
jobs, who are unable to return home
or who face other financial challenges
because of the pandemic.
As of early April, more than 1,100
donors have contributed nearly
$79,000 to emergency assistance
funds for students in need.
“It is impressive and gratifying to
see how Spartans are looking out
for one another,” says President
Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. “Many in
our community are experiencing
financial difficulties, and your support
is providing a lifeline when they need
it most.”
HOW TO HELP
For a list of MSU emergency funds and
places in need on campus, visit
go.msu.edu/safety-net. e
MSU community bands together
to help students in need
Eleven MSU graduate
programs rank in the top 15
nationally, according to 2021
U.S. News & World
Report rankings.
Spartans on campus and around the country are
volunteering at food banks to meet the food
needs of their communities, including at an
alumni service day in Denver.
Paneth also spearheaded the group’
s website,
ccpp19.org, which is hosted by MSU.
“We need to inform health care providers
about the use of convalescent plasma and
also reach recovered patients with an urgent
plea to donate plasma,” Paneth says.
“Additionally, doctors will use the site to
input data on how their patients respond to
the plasma treatment. The hope is that we
can move this potentially lifesaving therapy
to controlled clinical trials and then to wider
use if effectiveness is demonstrated as
quickly as possible.
“As of April 1, more than 1,100 plasma
donors have registered, but we need more,”
Paneth says.
“Small studies in China during the recent
outbreak of COVID-19 suggest, but do not
prove, that convalescent plasma improved
outcomes. Until randomized trials are
completed in the future, we will not know for
sure that it works, in what circumstances and
for whom, but we’
re hopeful.” e
MSU EPIDEMIOLOGIST continued