From the FoodBank’s warehouse to pantry shelves, and ultimately, to the tables of struggling college students, Allan Lin has seen what it takes to combat hunger on campus – every step of the way. In addition to interning at CFBNJ over a summer, he has both worked at and received food from the Rutgers Student Food Pantry in New Brunswick.
“I think it’s a really unique position to be in,” Allan shared. “Most of us who work at the pantry are also pantry users, so we have that bond because we all understand that it’s hard sometimes to get food on the table and to have access to food on campus.”
Allan worked at the Rutgers Student Food Pantry, a CFBNJ pantry partner, for three years through the Federal Work-Study program. His tasks there were numerous: stocking shelves, opening the pantry for the day, working at check-out, and speaking to students to dispel stigma and emphasize the importance of the pantry.
His favorite part about his job was getting to know the students who came in regularly – their names, their food preferences, and their ambitions.
“It’s nice forming a bond with regulars because they do feel grateful,” Allan said. “We’ve gotten letters over the years saying how much they appreciate the pantry being there.”
Having also turned to the pantry for support throughout his college career, Allan shares in that gratitude. He lived on campus, where meal plans were expensive, and without a car, he couldn’t go off-campus to get groceries. At times, he even had to work more than one job while taking classes in order to afford his living expenses.
When asked what he and other students would do without the pantry, Allan replied: “Unfortunately, I know that a lot of students would just go hungry. They probably wouldn’t be able to get good food, like produce or anything that’s fresh. They would have to buy refined stuff and processed food – stuff that’s cheaper. It’s especially hard if you’re working while going to school.”
With help from the pantry, Allan studied hard and graduated from Rutgers University in May 2024 with a major in English language and literature and minors in criminology and history. He spent the following summer interning with CFBNJ’s Special Events & Community Outreach team.
“It was a really reflective summer for me,” Allan said. “I had some post-grad blues before my internship, wondering what I was going to do with my time with school being over. Coming to CFBNJ and seeing how everyone is working so hard to create a better state was really nice.”
What’s next for Allan? He’s taking time to build up savings and gain experience before applying to law school, with hopes of someday becoming an attorney.
His first-ever full-time job is as an Administrative Assistant at a local elevator repair company – a family-owned business. It’s a perfect fit for Allan, who grew up in his own family’s business, a Chinese restaurant that his grandparents owned.
“I’m excited for my future,” Allan concluded.
