Fifth annual UNC-NC State Pantry Bowl raises money to combat campus hunger.
Before the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack face off on the football field on Nov. 29, UNC-Chapel Hill and NC State University’s campuses will again come together on something both can agree on — making sure no student goes to class hungry.
The Fifth annual Pantry Bowl, held this year from Nov. 3 to Nov. 30, is a fundraiser that leverages a friendly rivalry between the two schools to see who can raise the most money to combat food insecurity on their campuses. Over the past four years, the schools have collectively raised more than $600,000 for NC State’s Feed the Pack Food Pantry and the Carolina Food Pantry Network, making a significant impact on the health and well-being of college students.
Meeting basic needs to support student success
Desirée Rieckenberg, UNC-Chapel Hill’s dean of students, said a 2024 campus survey found that 31% of UNC students indicated that they cut down on the size of meals or skipped meals due to resources, and about 25% who responded indicated they had experienced hunger at some point and chosen not to eat.
Many people have no idea that students at Carolina experience food insecurity, said Rieckenberg. Many are also unaware of the various programs Carolina provides to support and care for the “whole student.” The dean of students office is the starting point of contact for students seeking support surrounding the things that can impact their ability to successfully navigate their University experience, including hunger, housing and more.
“Fundamentally, we know that in order to be successful, you have to address one’s basic needs, such as food, shelter, water and clothing. These building blocks create a foundation so you can focus on bigger things,” she said. “Hunger impacts concentration, how you move through your day around campus and just about every facet of a student’s experience at Carolina. And ultimately, we are committed to making sure all students are happy, healthy and successful.”
Campus-wide support through the Carolina Food Pantry Network
The Carolina Food Pantry Network is a campus-wide, community approach to reducing student food insecurity that crosses nearly every corner of campus. Led by the Dean of Students Office, these efforts to reduce hunger include campus food pantries, including the student-led Carolina Cupboard in the Student and Academic Services Building North; Edible Campus UNC, which provides fresh fruits and vegetables from eight gardens across campus; and meal cards donated by Carolina Dining Services that students can access through the financial aid or Dean of Student’s offices. UNC Student Affairs’ recently launched app Hello Heels also provides a way for students to opt-in to push notifications about where they can find free food on campus.
“The reality is, there are so many factors that go into what a student spends on food,” said Rieckenberg. “They might theoretically have enough money, but they also might be one emergency away from being able to have to make a tough decision between — do I keep the roof over my head, or do I pay for groceries?”
Raising funds — and awareness
Carolina aims to win the Pantry Bowl, besting NC State in the contest and raising more money than ever to provide greater access to food across campus. And as the total raised during the Pantry Bowl goes up, Carolina’s donors are playing an important part in helping the numbers on food insecurity go down.
“Carolina makes a significant commitment to support our students’ academic and personal pursuits, and we’re working hard to raise awareness that these efforts exist,” she said. “We might not be able to erase food insecurity totally, but with increased efforts and awareness, we can make those numbers go down.”
Support the Pantry Bowl with a gift of any size at givecampus.com/s/ysrnlo.
Written by Courtney Mitchell
Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh
