AFT and AFT-Wisconsin—Unions Representing Campus Faculty and Staff—Donate $7,500 to University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Campus Cupboard & Clothes Closet

GREEN BAY, Wis.—Today, the American Federation of Teachers and AFT-Wisconsin announced a $7,500 donation to the Campus Cupboard & Clothes Closet at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The donation will help supply food, clothing and hygiene kits for students, staff and faculty on the campus.

“Over the last few years, students, faculty and staff at campuses across the country have dealt with incredibly difficult circumstances—emotionally, academically and financially,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “The Campus Cupboard & Clothes Closet is a lifeline for so many members of the Green Bay community, and this donation helps ensure that folks in this community can access the basics they need to live, so instead of worrying about where their next meal is going to come from or if they have clean clothes to wear to school the following day, they can focus on their coursework, their families and their own mental health.

“As members of the UW-Green Bay community, this is one small way we can work together to help folks make their lives better and increase their opportunities to succeed.”    

Campus Cupboard & Clothes Closet is a student-run organization whose mission is to provide an on-campus food pantry, clothing closet and supply of cleaning/personal hygiene products to ensure those on campus have their basic needs met.

“For folks at UW-Green Bay struggling with food insecurity and lacking the necessities to do well in college, the Campus Cupboard provides an indispensable resource for our campus. This gift from the AFT and AFT-Wisconsin will ensure more of our students can be successful by taking care of basic necessities for them,” said Jon Shelton, associate professor at UW-Green Bay and president of UWGB-United, the faculty and staff union. “Our union cares deeply about our students’ living conditions because we know it’s that much harder to focus on learning when you’re distracted by an affordability crisis. We hope this donation makes a difference for them.”