Del Mar hopes to help even more students with a planned expansion and rebranding of the Viking Food Pantry.
The pantry, which opened in 2019 on Heritage Campus, soon will have locations at the Windward and Oso Creek campuses as well, according to Lisa Leal-Garcia, coordinator of Student Engagement and Retention. It will also be renamed Valdar’s Market.
Del Mar partners with the Coastal Bend Food Bank to stock the pantry. While pantry assistants order the usual staples of canned goods, they also keep students’ wants and needs in mind when ordering.
“I always try to keep the essentials stocked in the pantry, but I also try to order things that we do not come across often on the Coastal Bend Food Bank menu,” said Lillian Arias, pantry assistant.
Valdar’s Market is accessible to all Del Mar students in need. Student must be currently enrolled and complete a DMC Viking Food Pantry Referral Form. Eligible students are able to fill a 35-pound reusable bag twice a month. Each participant can schedule a 30-minute appointment to shop around the market and select the items of their choice.
Del Mar hopes to have the Windward and Oso Creek locations up and running later this semester.
While the majority of the stock comes from the Coastal Bend Food Bank, Valdar’s Market also accepts direct donations. Any item that is considered to be shelf stable can be accepted. Personal care items are an added bonus because they do not get counted toward the weight.
Student groups or other organizations can put on a food drive to help stock the market but should specify that the drive benefits Valdar’s Market.
For more information, call 361-698-2401 or email foodpantry@delmar.edu.
