Credit score: Avi Singh
Adjusting to dwelling in a brand new space away from dwelling may be daunting. Whereas there exist an unlimited array of assets accessible in and across the Penn group, many college students stay unaware of them. A lot of the Penn pupil physique has expressed curiosity in supporting native companies, consuming sustainably, donating their unused meals objects, and extra, but we observe decrease participation charges as a consequence of this lack of know-how. Using this information to all issues meals at Penn, college students might discover all the knowledge wanted to discover the numerous choices accessible to them.
Meals Insecurity Sources
For college students experiencing meals insecurity, one of many assets Penn affords is the Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC), positioned simply behind Pottruck Health Heart at 3708 Chestnut Avenue. The Heart has held many initiatives prior to now, one among which was the Grab-And-Go food bags for FGLI students. This allowed college students to choose up luggage full of meals from the GIC freed from cost. In addition they provide the GIC Pantry, which is in partnership with Penn Park Farm to offer college students with free produce that may be picked up from their constructing. Along with this, the GIC gives extra assets and initiatives for Penn college students experiencing meals insecurity — the knowledge of which may be discovered on their website.
Moreover, many college students are unaware of the truth that in case you qualify for work-study, which 40% of Penn students do yearly, you may additionally qualify for meals stamps to assist your grocery purchasing. Meals stamps are a federal profit designed to assist lower-income People financially and make sure that everybody has entry to wholesome meals. In Pennsylvania, that is referred to as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On their web site, you could find particulars on qualification in addition to the net utility. You don’t want to enter an workplace, and upon finishing their utility you could obtain entry to your SNAP advantages in about 30 days.
Sustainable Consuming Choices
Many Penn college students would like to behave cautiously when it comes to eating as a result of perception that their eating plan contributes to environmental hurt within the broader Philadelphia group. Nevertheless, there are a mess of the way we college students can observe sustainable consuming habits all through our time at Penn.
Penn at present participates within the Green2Go, an essential initiative right here on campus that works to cut back meals and restrict single-use supplies similar to plastic or styrofoam to-go containers. Sadly, many college students are nonetheless not totally conscious of how this works. Penn college students might choose up a inexperienced field from the swipe-in level at most of our bigger eating halls. Simply ask one of many clerks to your field, fill it up, and take your meals to go! At any time when you’re completed, simply rinse out your field and return it to one of many many Green2Go drop-off stations positioned outdoors of most eating halls. This varies from one location to the following, however typically you will see cardboard packing containers labeled as Green2Go return spots simply contained in the constructing of every eating corridor (between the place you enter the constructing and the place you enter the eating corridor itself). Extra details about Penn Sustainability initiatives may be examine at this link.
One other sustainable consuming possibility is the University Square Farmer’s Market, which is about up outdoors of the Penn Bookstore on Wednesdays. The Farmer’s Market permits college students to buy regionally grown items somewhat than mass-produced and land-intensive ones. Most excitingly, they settle for Eating {Dollars}! Yow will discover extra data on their website. They’re arrange outdoors of the Penn Bookstore at thirty sixth and Walnut Streets on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to five p.m.
Some smaller actions you could take when eating on Penn’s campus could also be choosing much less water and land-intensive meals. As an illustration, Penn’s eating affords many vegetarian and vegan eating choices at every eating corridor that may assist to cut back your carbon footprint. There additionally exist recycling bins unfold all throughout our campus the place you may get rid of any packaging you’ll have acquired via purchasing at locations like Connoisseur Grocer. These are just some smaller actions you may soak up your day-to-day to assist cut back your environmental footprint, and it is very important do not forget that some progress is preferable to no progress. Your eco-friendly actions are usually not going unnoticed.
Supporting Native Companies
There are an unlimited array of native companies within the Philadelphia group that many college students could also be unaware of.
Along with the Farm to Metropolis College Sq. Market, you may also try the Rittenhouse Farmers market positioned at 1800 Walnut Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19103. This market is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and is only a 12-minute SEPTA trip away (simply take line 13, 34, or 36 from the Higher Quad station.)
If you’re fascinated with a brief 15-minute stroll on the weekends, try Clark Park Farmers Market! This market is positioned at 4300-4398 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104 and is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday. They’ve fruits, greens, desserts, and even some non-food objects.
One in all my private favorites is Pita Chip, a Mediterranean spot positioned only a brief 10-minute stroll from campus. Some spots that my pals are massive followers of are Rosy’s Taco Bar, Masala Kitchen, and Okay’Far. Rosy’s Taco Bar is the right Taco Tuesday spot positioned nearly 25 minutes away from campus (through strolling). Masala Kitchen is close to Dealer Joe’s; my pals and I like to go earlier than or after grocery purchasing, and it’s surprisingly reasonably priced! Final however not least, Okay’Far is positioned in Rittenhouse Sq. (a couple of 30-35 minute stroll from campus), and is stuffed with some scrumptious pastries and sandwiches — an awesome possibility for a Sunday brunch. Using this directory, you could find small companies to assist in nearly any neighborhood of Philadelphia.
Reasonably priced Consuming Choices
Final however not least, listed here are some assets to keep in mind concerning reasonably priced consuming choices. Many websites and organizations provide discounted costs. One in all these is Too Good to Go, a non-profit group that minimizes meals waste whereas providing extra reasonably priced consuming choices. Discover extra data on their website. A pal of mine raved about Too Good to Go and stated she received Unfold bagels for surprisingly low cost, amongst different issues! Moreover, SnackPass affords numerous reductions on native eating places to college students, and you could actually have a Penn peer with a SnackPass partnership! Their website gives extra data, however don’t forget to obtain the app!
Lastly, Campus Philly affords college-student-specific reductions throughout the Philadelphia space. Whereas they’ve many different thrilling affords, they provide offers on food and drinks from many companion organizations and are positively price trying out.
With a pupil physique as numerous as Penn’s, it is very important acknowledge that our college students come from quite a lot of backgrounds, making it all of the extra pertinent to make sure college students are conscious of reasonably priced consuming choices on and round campus. Going ahead, I encourage you all to revisit this information and the numerous assets supplied inside. Most significantly, in case you come throughout a helpful meals useful resource, you should definitely unfold the phrase and assist make our Philadelphia group just a bit higher… and tastier.
EMMA SHOCKLEY is a School first yr finding out Worldwide Relations from Panama Metropolis Seashore, Florida. Her e mail is eshock@sas.upenn.edu.
