Wednesday Why: College Students & Food Storage

Q:  Should college students have a home storage?


A:  My opinion is that they should have something--at least a 72 hour kit.  If they have room under the bed or in a closet, they could have a few more things, but probably only like a 1 month supply rather than a year supply.  For ideas on storing in small spaces see last weeks post here.


This question has been asked before, see this article:  “The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Home Production and Storage,” Ensign, August 1977.  Here is what it says about college students and those who move a lot:


"Barbara B. Smith, general president of the Relief Society, when asked if Young Adult sisters should try to start a food storage program, replied:

“We’re really not encouraging them to get into an extensive food storage program while in school, but we do think they should learn provident living: how to plan, budget, and save for tomorrow. They can learn to have more than one or two weeks of supplies on hand. They can learn sound purchasing habits.” (Ensign, March 1977, p. 37.)

However, if you are in school and married or out of school and establishing yourself, and if small apartments or moving around a lot are a regular pattern in your life, you should work on overcoming the limitations of your situation: “Often in rather limited space, basic food items such as wheat, dried milk, sugar or honey, and salt can be stored. Closets, attics, space under beds, or even space made available by family or friends can be utilized for food storage.” In this case, “it is better to have food storage sufficient for a few months than to have no storage at all.” (Essentials of Home Storage pamphlet.)

Some additional methods of storage for those in this situation are:

1. Store food in dual-purpose places, e.g., as the foundation for a mattress, under a table, etc.

2. Join with other families in similar circumstances and all contribute to a “perpetual” community supply of some sort, which would continue for others even after you leave. (This is not an ideal arrangement, but is one alternative. In a real crisis we should be willing to share whatever food we have with others anyway.)

3. If possible, share with your own parents or “adopt” another permanent family and contribute to their food storage program, with the understanding that they would share with you during an emergency."

These are some ideas for those living in limited space, like a college student.  So if you have limited space, there are still things that can be done--learning to plan, to budget, menu planning, etc. as well as storing a limited amount of items.