Today we’d like to introduce you to Elias Valentin.
Hi Elias, 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?
My story with the Knights Pantry began when I came to the University of Central Florida during the summer term of 2017. I was fresh out of high school and looking for potential job opportunities. I come from a moderate to a low-income family, so I knew that I would eventually need to start working a job to support myself through college. And be wholly independent in order to lift off some of the financial burdens my family held. I was first hired by the pantry as their Volunteer Specialist through the federal work-study program.
Eventually, after a couple of semesters in that role, communicating and working closely with our large volunteer staff, the assistant manager position opened up and I applied. I would continue to do a lot of what I did in my old work-study role, instead this time, I would play a more prominent role in networking with donors, collaborating with on and off-campus partners, and support day to day pantry efforts on an administrative level. When our manager position opened up, I knew it was my time to step up. I’ve followed the pantry through four consecutive years throughout my college career, from hurricanes to viral pandemics. My love of helping and serving others has never ceased. Being able to provide opportunities to those who are less fortunate or who are experiencing rough times can make the tiniest of differences to those who have worked hard to position themselves to seek higher education.
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?
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a struggle for the pantry, having to drastically shift the way we provide our services for our students. Instead of seeing the pantry filled with students, it is mostly bare with only our student staff working Mondays-Fridays answering phone calls and or making curbside pick-up bags/taking in-store shopping appointments. It’s been hard to interact with students and hear their stories, something that I used to love doing. That’s what makes my job more personal.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the pantry manager of the Knights Helping Knights Pantry. We are a student-driven non-profit organization program that provides free food, toiletries, and clothing to enrolled UCF students. Our main focuses are in areas of food insecurity and hunger/homelessness. What makes us stand out from most other pantries is that the Knights Pantry is completely run by student staff, with the exception of professional staff guidance from UCF’s Student Union. Knights Pantry only serves currently enrolled UCF students.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Anyone can go on our website, knightspantry.org, to look up information on how to make monetary donations and physical donations as well as volunteering opportunities. They can also further contact us at 407-823-3663.
Contact Info:
- Website: knightspantry.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khkpantry/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KHKPantry/
