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
msutoday.msu.edu

Explore giving opportunities
givingto.msu.edu

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

