Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaylie Meccariello.
Hi Kaylie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Utah State University’s Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) was organized in 2010 by a USU student. It was begun with the hope to serve students who had a hard time getting easy access to nutritious food. SNAC has taken that original dream and grown to make it a reality. Now the university’s own food pantry, SNAC serves nearly 25% of the USU Logan student population. As a free, on-campus pantry, SNAC is open to all USU students, faculty, and staff. In recent years, SNAC has expanded its food variety to include fresh produce, eggs, cheese, milk, and special dietary-restrictive items such as dairy-free beverages, gluten-free foods, and halal items. SNAC hopes to continue expanding its outreach to better serve Utah State University and its students.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When SNAC was first created in 2010, canned food was distributed to students from a trailer. Since then, students and employees have worked hard to be able to find suitable space and materials fit to create a functioning food pantry. In 2021, a previous student service center was transformed into SNAC and equipped with necessary food service materials to be able to prepare and repackage food items. In 2024, SNAC completed the university-required process to become an official USU center. Now that SNAC is a recognized university center, its outreach has expanded exponentially. Since July of 2025, SNAC has already had 24,000 visits. As numbers continue to increase, SNAC is continually working with community organizations to find ways to keep shelves stocked with as much variety as possible.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Many of the employees at SNAC are full-time students. Most of them study Dietetics, Food Science, and other health-related majors. They are all proud to be able to work in a facility that promotes food security for their college peers. The experience they receive working at SNAC prepares them well for the workforce by providing them with opportunities to develop compassion in a community-based setting.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
SNAC partners with many other university and community organizations in order to best serve its patrons. In fact, most of the food SNAC has comes through donations provided by these groups. SNAC employees pick up excess food from USU’s dining services and local restaurants on a daily basis. If this food were not recovered and distributed at SNAC, it would likely be thrown out and wasted. SNAC also receives food from the Cache Community Food Pantry- Logan’s local food pantry, and Utah Food Bank. These partnerships have become the backbone for SNAC’s growth and success. In addition to these regular contributors, SNAC takes donations of commercially packaged goods, fresh garden produce, and hygiene products from community members. These donations add variety to the items commonly had at SNAC. Individuals and families are also welcome to volunteer at SNAC and help repackage food and stock shelves. We are incredibly grateful for the support of so many individuals who help SNAC thrive!
With SNAC’s expanded impact, opportunities to give back to the community have come. In May of last year, SNAC and the Cache Community Food Pantry hosted their first Mobile Food Pantry. At this monthly event, all members of the community are welcome to drive or walk-up to an outdoor food pantry where volunteers load food into patrons’ cars and carts. This has been a meaningful way for SNAC to serve the community that does so much for it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://qanr.usu.edu/ndfs/snac/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ususnac/
