By: Mariah Muhammad

Nestled between the RPAC and Morrill Tower and hidden behind a massive steel door, most students seem to pass the Buckeye Food Alliance by. For Samantha Musgrove and Nick Fowler, it is a place they hold close to their heart.

In 2016, after an Ohio State research study determined that approximately 7,000 students suffer from low food security on campus, and at least 15% of undergraduates are unable to afford enough food to feed themselves adequately, the Buckeye Food Alliance started up as a small student organization.                                                          

Musgrove, a fourth-year finance major, has been involved with BFA since the beginning of her sophomore year, and believes it’s a great way to get involved on campus. 

“I thought this would be a really great way to not only get involved more and find more people to interact with, but also to give back to my OSU community,” Musgrove says. “I was really looking for something service-oriented.”

And Musgrove found it. BFA’s motto? No Buckeye goes hungry. 

Fowler, one of the first full-time employees for the program, said it allowed him to combine his passions for public health and service. 

“Being a twice alumna of Ohio State, the ability to give back and insert students here on our campus is truly an opportunity I could not miss,” Fowler says. 

Fowler has undoubtedly seen the pantry grow, but one challenge members still face is helping others to overcome the stigma of relying on a food pantry. Musgrove believes that being a non-judgment zone for students is essential for longevity. 

“A lot of people have a stigma around a food pantry and what food insecurity means,” she says. “But once people come in here for the first time, [they] see that it’s a really low-key and laid-back operation.” 

BFA also works closely with Kroger and two local farms; Unity Fridge and Ohio State Student Farm, in order to provide thousands of pounds of fresh produce for the pantry. One of their goals this year is to have greater access to inclusive food options; and that means being able to provide options for vegetarians, vegans, and those with gluten-free food requirements. 

Pre-COVID, students could come into the pantry and choose their items, but since social distancing restrictions and facemasks have become a new normal, the Alliance has been forced to adapt. Now, the team provides an inventory list and students must check off what they want before receiving a package. 

But being able to reach every student, especially Ohio State’s international communities, is harder now more than ever. 

“I would love, in general, to see our numbers continue to grow and reach even more students,” Musgrove says. 

But the Buckeye Food Alliance is still growing. Since Student Life donated space in Lincoln Tower's basement and a second location was opened in St. Stephen's Church on North Campus this year, the group has seen an influx of support. 

However, because of the pandemic, they have been forced to shut down operations for the foreseeable future. 

“We know we’re not serving every student who’s experiencing low food security,” Fowler says. “But we want everyone to know that they’re welcome here and this is a space for them. This is truly an organization for every Ohio State student.”