DePauw senior makes cool donation to emergency food pantry

BannerGraphic/JARED JERNAGAN

With a new refrigerator at the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry, the next challenge is to fill it with goods for the needy of Putnam County. DePauw senior Alessandra Pistoia (left) and pantry director Judy Miller proudly display the new unit donated by Pistoia earlier this week.

A pledge by the organizers of DePauw's new campus farm might have gone unrealized if not for the efforts of a graduating senior.

While 10-15 percent of the farm's produce is to be given local food pantries, the Putnam County Emergency Food Pantry lacked the refrigerator to store fresh produce.

Alessandra Pistoia, an environmental biology major from Zionsville, took it upon herself to fix the problem. She applied for funds through the school and was granted enough to purchase the unit and donate it to the pantry earlier this month.

DePauw's campus farm is being organized by the office of sustainability, in which Pistoia serves as an intern. However, donation of the refrigerator was a personal project, not part of the job.

"I wanted to be able to impact the surrounding communities," Pistoia said.

Pantry director Judy Miller was thrilled with the donation, even if it meant some rearranging at the 600 Tennessee St. location.

The addition of the unit also signals a change in what the pantry can accept. Miller said the pantry will welcome certain perishable goods, but by state law, she must know from where it came and how long it has been unrefrigerated.

Anyone wanting to donate such needs to call Miller first at 301-4431 or 721-6228.