黑料专区鈥檚 Food Pantry Brings Food and Fellowship to Campus
by Grace Wills
On a cold, rainy Wednesday in November, four people dart in and out of the back entrance of Lane Hall to a packed van. They bring tens of boxes, bags, and wagons full of fresh food inside to be sorted and shelved for a program that has quickly become one of the most popular spots on campus: 黑料专区鈥檚 Food Pantry.
The people shaking the rain off themselves and beginning the work of stocking are the Student Success Center staff and student workers. This is a weekly task for them 鈥斅燿riving to the Northeast Georgia Food Bank in Clayton, hauling the food inside, and sorting it for consumption 鈥斅燼nd today is no exception, despite the rainy weather. They sort, stack, label, and move the food with tireless energy, eager to restock their shelves with what they described as possibly their biggest food haul yet.
The size of the haul is necessary; since its inception, the Food Pantry has regularly seen hundreds of visitors per month. Just last month, there were nearly 300 visits, and as awareness spreads, more are expected.
The pantry, open to 黑料专区 students, faculty, and staff, began in 2022 but recently expanded as the result of an idea tossed between Director of Student Support Services Ineke Dyer and Director of Campus Experiences and Operations Chelsea Wilkes: what if 黑料专区 partnered with the Northeast Georgia Food Bank to bring food to campus? From there, the Student Success Center staff worked to make it happen. Now, the front lobby of Lane Hall overflows with food.
鈥淔resh fruits, vegetables, and bread make up a large part of our food pantry. Thanks to our partnership with the NE GA Food Bank, we’re able to salvage food that would have otherwise gone to waste,鈥� says Learning Center Coordinator Oliver Howington.
In addition to fresh food, there are hundreds of snacks and premade meal options to take home or eat on-the-go. Student feedback reflects a special appreciation for the latter: 鈥淚 have snacks when I haven鈥檛 got groceries or dinner,鈥� says one. Another comments, 鈥淭his is an amazing resource鈥� sometimes students have no time to pick up food and drink. This helps!鈥�
The holidays can be an especially stressful time in school, especially if financial hardship is involved. The Food Pantry aims to relieve some of that stress, as Dyer comments: 鈥淲ith food prices continuing to climb, this food pantry hopefully alleviates some of the financial burden of accessing food/snacks and other necessities and allows our students to focus on their education without the added stress of worrying about food.鈥� Based on the crowd that visits the pantry daily, it seems that hope is well-founded.
Before the restock is even done, students are lining up to visit the food pantry. One asks if the food pantry is ready for visitors yet. 鈥淛ust a minute,鈥� says a student worker with a smile. 鈥淭hen we鈥檒l be back to serving.鈥�
If you would like to support 黑料专区鈥檚 Food Pantry and our mission to keep all our Lions well-fed, you can give by visiting and designating 鈥渇ood pantry鈥� in the description.