Last fall, community and corporate partners made a major contribution to IU East’s Wolfmart, enhancing its service to on-campus students.
The campus food pantry received a new refrigeration unit as part of its partnership with the Swipe Out Hunger program and a collaboration with Whirlpool Corporation’s Feel Good Fridge Program. In addition to the new unit, Dot Foods Inc. contributed an in-kind donation of $2,500 worth of food and hygiene items, filling the pantry’s shelves and fridge for the fall semester.
“This generous addition from Whirlpool Corporation significantly enhances our capacity to stock a wider variety and quantity of perishables, thereby allowing us to feed more of our students,” said Deanna Cooper, coordinator of Wolfmart, in a news release.
Additional community support included First English Church, whose members donated food and hygiene products.
“I am humbled and grateful for those who champion my efforts to ensure our students have access to quality food and hygiene products,” Cooper said.
Wolfmart is part of IU East’s Student Wellness and Wellbeing-Community of Practice Initiative. This program addresses food insecurity and basic needs among the student body. The pantry offers free food, personal care and household items throughout the year.
A version of this article appeared in the February 18 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.