The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Women’s and Gender Studies Department established “Pete’s Plate” a collaboration with Mustard Seed Café offering free meals to the UTEP community.
The Mustard Seed Café is a nonprofit organization and donation-based cafe. The cafe has different meals each day with the mission of providing those in need with food security.
The Mustard Seed Café website states, “We serve delicious, nutritious food with an accompanying commitment to recognize the dignity of each guest and treat them with respect. There are no set menus, no prices or requirements for our guests.”
“Pete’s Plate” works in a very similar way to the café. New meals are distributed to students each day of the week with all students welcome to come in at whatever time fits into their schedule. On top of the meals, the Women’s and Gender Studies office also has snacks and other quick meals for students who may be in a hurry.
The Women’s and Gender Studies department is not only providing meals and snacks for all students but is also providing students with hygiene items. The goal of the department is to provide students food and hygiene secure as this can aid students to the path of finishing their chosen degree.
Danae Murphy, a biomedical science student at UTEP, sees the Pete’s Plates program as positive support for those attending the university.
“I think it could help, because if there’s people that can’t necessarily afford (meals), if they don’t have enough money or if they have problems they can’t necessarily control in their life,” Murphy said. “It’s very important for extra help. I think it could lead to someone’s success because it gives them the benefit to get everything they need and have that extra support that they could stand on.”
Around 35% of El Pasoans and 61% of UTEP students faced food insecurity, according to a research study done by UTEP and El Pasoans Fighting Hunger.
For those attending UTEP, students with food or even basic need-insecurity, such as housing, hygiene items, and health, are approximately 43% less likely to finish their degree.
To combat this idea Director of the Women’s and Gender studies department Hilda Ontiveros, finds their program a necessary one for student success.
“We should be the guardians of our community. Our community is UTEP. What we’re doing is feeding the community, the UTEP community. To fill a very large need at the university.”
The Women’s and Gender Studies Department can be found in the Liberal Arts Building in room 233, with available resources from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday to students, faculty and staff.
Joseph Montero is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected].
