Lees-McRae College
IN-14: Food Bank

Location: The Food Pantry is located in the hallway/waiting area for health services in the Canon Student Center. Who it serves: The pantry primarily serves the students of LMC, although during the first year of the COVID pandemic several folks in student affairs suggested some of the employees of the housekeeping and food service staff utilized the pantry as a food source. Who stocks it: The pantry was stocked several years by my church (Banner Elk UMC). Last year we worked with Feeding Avery Families and several folks from Banner Elk Presbyterian as source for food items. Common Ground, LMC555, and a few others student groups have overseen the pantry. Impact it makes/can make: Here is the interesting part. According to Jon Kokos, "All resident students are required to have a full meal plan, regardless of housing location, unless they request a medical or religious exemption. Only a handful of students have that exemption." As such there should never be a case of "food insecurity" so to speak. Perhaps some commuter students, or the few who live off campus might face that challenge. However, the pantry when filled with the "right" items, has needed replenishment on a regular basis. Statistically speaking (you may know this) there is a problem with food insecurity on college campuses. I have several campus minister friends across the State of NC who have shared rather surprising numbers on food insecurity and in some cases homelessness. One in particular is at UNC Greensboro. Here are a few articles with fairly recent data on food insecurity and the negative impact on graduation rates. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/forefront.20220127.264905 According to the most recent Hope Survey from fall 2020, 38 percent of students in two-year colleges and 29 percent of students at four-year colleges reported experiencing food insecurity in the previous 30 days. ***The report also highlighted significant racial and ethnic disparities: 75 percent of Indigenous, 70 percent Black, and 70 percent of American Indian or Alaska Native students experienced food insecurity, housing insecurity or homelessness, compared to 54 percent of White students. https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/College_LISTENING_REPORT_2020.pdf Interesting Article https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/food-insecurity-during-college-years-linked-to-lower-graduation-rate A study led by a researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that food insecurity among college students is associated with lower college graduation rates and lower chances of obtaining a bachelor’s or advanced degree. Hannah Finkelstein applied for a grant of some sort a few years back. I went through some of my files to see if I could locate it, no luck. I do recall writing a letter as a Local Pastor in the area in support of the grant. Below is a list of “most requested” items. The list was compiled by Hannah Finkelstein when she worked here. When she started the pantry, we faced several obstacles on accessibility. The previous Dean of Students did not want the waiting area where the pantry is located to remain unlocked after 5 pm. Finally a resolution was offered and the window for access opened a bit. Regular items like canned veggies were not typically stocked, as most students have no way to prepare them There was a small refrigerator at one point in time. The last time I looked it was not there. Peanut butter crackers Ramen noodles Freeze dried or dehydrated fruits Nuts and seeds Single serve packets of peanut butter Canned tuna or salmon (the packs with an easy open tab) Jerky Canned fruit Applesauce Cereal Cereal bars Fruit and veggie squeeze packs Individual servings of milk -We do have a fridge! Chocolate Crackers or pretzels Granola bars Microwaveable Mac n Cheese or Soups Personal hygiene items