For the last three years, the Pantry Bowl rode the wave of rivalry week, with UNC-Chapel Hill battling against NC State in a friendly competition to see who could get the most gifts for their on-campus food pantries. This year, the two schools are coming together once again to make an incredible impact.
While our football teams take the field, competing down after down to get into the endzones and between the goalposts, Carolina and NC State are joining forces off the field for one goal: Fight food insecurity on campus.
“Providing resources to students through the Carolina Food Pantry Network is crucial because access to basic needs is a right, not a privilege,” said Kennedy Williams ’25, president of the Carolina Cupboard, one of UNC-Chapel Hill’s food pantries for students. “No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from. Being a student involves juggling numerous responsibilities, and food insecurity should not be one of them.”
Kennedy Williams ’25 in the Carolina Cupboard.
The Carolina Cupboard is a part of the actively growing Carolina Food Pantry Network, currently a network of six on-campus food pantries. The network is addressing food insecurity by bringing food resources to students where they are across campus, making nutritious food as accessible as possible.
“The number of students who were visiting just the Carolina Cupboard did not accurately represent the need that exists on our campus,” said Desirée Rieckenberg, dean of students at UNC-Chapel Hill.
The dean of student’s office found that one of the main barriers keeping students from going to the Carolina Cupboard was its location on campus. So the office, in collaboration with the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid, created a task force to build out the Carolina Food Pantry Network to reach more students across campus.
“As a University, I feel we are obligated to assist students in optimizing their health and well-being so they are in the best position to learn,” said Katherine Moore, former assistant dean of student affairs for the UNC School of Nursing. “Aggressively battling food insecurity by providing readily available nutritious options is a highly effective prevention and intervention strategy.”
A fundamental part of Moore’s former role was leading student support services and programs like Jessica’s Cupboard, another pantry in the network for nursing students.
She explained that students struggling with food insecurity tend to have lower GPAs; lower attendance rates; higher rates of depression, anemia and vitamin deficiencies; and higher recidivism.
“Surveys conducted nationally prior to the pandemic revealed food insecurity rates on four-year college campuses of around 30%,” Moore said. “Post-pandemic data reveal the incidence worsening to more than 40%.”
With Carolina facing similar rates of undergraduate and graduate students experiencing food insecurity, it’s incredibly important for the Carolina community to be vigilant in providing resources and access to nutritious food without barriers.
“The surveys identified that Carolina needs to be innovative in creating as much access to the food options available for students to address our community in a way that’s meaningful and ensure foundational, physiological basic needs are met,” said Rieckenberg.
Better together
By working together, Carolina and NC State have improved how both campuses can support their students and provide essential resources for this important issue. Because of the Pantry Bowl, both schools have been able to make improvements to their pantries, meet goals and plan for future needs. Collectively, Carolina and NC State raised almost $450,000 over the last three years.
The Pantry Bowl was successful in the past because of donors’ support. The Carolina community has stepped up and continues to be there for Tar Heel students struggling with food insecurity.
“My favorite part of Pantry Bowl is during the week when we are able to see people give donations from different companies, families and alumni,” said Williams. “It is so heartwarming to witness the community support, the Cupboard’s effort and continue to see us grow to help our Tar Heel community.”
The Pantry Bowl helps the Carolina Food Pantry Network reach more Tar Heel students facing food insecurity every year. In the past, Carolina used the money donated to buy an industrial-sized refrigerator and freezer, which allowed the Carolina Cupboard to provide more fresh and nutritious food to their patrons. With more support, all of the pantries can consistently place larger grocery orders with wider varieties of perishable and non-perishable items, fresh produce and selections for specific dietary needs.
As the number of students facing food insecurity continues to increase, so does the demand to meet those needs. Last year, just one pantry, Carolina Cupboard, assisted more than 700 students facing food insecurity. Carolina has begun the process of improving access to nutritious food across campus by expanding pantry locations. Now, our community is coming together to put forth a University-wide effort to fight food insecurity. There are currently six satellite pantry locations, serving Carolina students facing food insecurity.
- Carolina Cupboard – An on-campus food pantry that provides all students with food and supplies at no cost. Now located in the Student and Academic Services Building North, on the first floor in room 1221.
- CJ’s Cupboard – On-campus food pantry that is accessible to members of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. They are located in 2210 McGavran-Greenberg Hall. For additional information please visit their website.
- Jessica’s Cupboard – On-campus pantry for nursing students only. For additional information, contact the Office of Student Affairs for the School of Nursing.
- Bondurant Hall Food Pantry – On-campus food pantry located in Bondurant Hall 1072. This pantry primarily serves students in the health sciences or students who have classes near Bondurant Hall, but is open to any member of the Carolina Community.
- Bynum Hall Food Pantry – On-campus food pantry that primarily serves graduate students. This pantry is located in Bynum Hall at the Graduate School.
- Kenan Flagler Food Pantry – On-campus pantry located in McColl Hall on the 3rd Floor located in the Wellness Suite. This pantry primarily serves students in the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School or whose classes are located near Kenan-Flagler.
Focused on the future
Part of this effort to plan for the future started when the Carolina Cupboard moved to a more central location. The Cupboard is now located in the Student and Academic Services Building North, on the first floor in room 1221. It serves as a hub for the newly created Carolina Food Pantry Network, and any student with a valid UNC One Card may access this resource.
You can help us continue expanding our efforts to fight food insecurity during this year’s Pantry Bowl, Nov. 24 – Dec. 1, 2024, coinciding with the Nov. 30 game between the Tar Heels and the Wolfpack. You can make your gift at https://pantrybowl.com.
By Terzah Dyer
Photos by Jeyhoun Allebaugh
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