The Mustang Market is a resource that provides all SMSU students free basic necessities, such as food and hygiene products, regardless of financial background.

It comes along every month; this month it falls on Thursday November 9, and it is on the rise in popularity.

Vickie Abel, in her first year at SMSU as Coordinator of Accessibility Services and head of the Mustang Market, said “(September) was the biggest Mustang Market in history,” with a total of 136 students, which knocks previous years out of the park, as they had an average of 40 to 50 students turn out. Of the 136 students in September, 82 of them were walk-ins.

Students can walk-in or set an appointment using the QR code posted on this article and attached to the emails Abel sends out every month.

The number of marketgoers was surprising to Abel as she said, “I would have thought they would have come to school stocked.” She said she believes “It’s a reflection of the economy and increased enrollment at SMSU.”

With attendance on the rise, Abel goes out of her way to provide the best for students. We can clearly see this by the fact that the September market had fresh fruit and vegetables along with school supplies and increased cooking spices. It also included some blankets that were handmade and donated by a local group.

Abel is very proud of the work and the new additions that she added, including fresh food. “I had some pickles, apples, oranges and yogurt in September,” she said.

The Mustang Market also stocks canned and dry goods for cooking, along with personal hygiene items. These items are gone quickly as they are the popular items, especially the blankets and spices.

When the office market day is over, Abel stores anything that’s left in the Accessibility Services office which can be found in IL (Individualized Learning) 220. She said a few students came in after the September market with dire need of help.

Abel recalls this story ‘One [student] came in crying. The student said, “I don’t have any food.” A few other students in this position received supplies that were still available.’ “

In order to avoid this, Abel recommends making an appointment for the market, as this is the best way to pick up food, school supplies, and household items.

As this is Abels’ first year at SMSU, it is clear she is making a positive impact. It’s surprising to learn that she does all this work for the Mustang Market with a budget of only $600-700 from the SMSU foundation, along with some grants.

One sophomore at SMSU stated his experience with the Mustang Market: “It’s nice to have it available, and it has good free canned fruit and baking ingredients.”

Looking at the increased turnout in students, it seems like his sentiment is shared by many others.

Mustang Market | Southwest Minnesota State University (smsu.edu)