We interviewed a leader from the
University of North Carolina Student Government about the student government’s efforts to establish a campus food pantry.
Please tell us your name and current position in student government. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, major, any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Roderick Gladney and I am a current junior Chemistry major, minoring in African, African American, and Diaspora Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
How did you get involved in the UNC Student Government?
By serving as a member of the Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach Committee of the UNC Student Government for the 2012-2013 school year, I was able to see how this committee greatly impacts the student body by fostering diversity and inclusivity. I grew to love this organization because it was our mission to create an inclusive and welcoming social dynamic for the entire student body by promoting cultural awareness, celebrating diversity, and encouraging advocacy. By doing so, we hoped to catalyze the unification of students on this campus. And as a committee we take pride in bridging those gaps so that the students on this campus can live in harmony with one another.
This school year, I had the honor and privilege to expand my involvement in UNC’s Student Government by serving as one of the co-chairs for Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach, as the liaison for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee, and as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Advisor. The main mission for all of these capacities was to create a more inclusive, accepting environment at UNC by uniting Tar Heels of all backgrounds, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religious ideology, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status.
Why do you feel that the university needs a food pantry?
Honestly, the necessity for a food pantry on UNC’s campus is long overdue. The need for Carolina Cupboard comes at a time when individuals in our community are burdened by personal economic strife, thus contributing to students experiencing food poverty and insecurity. One thing I’ve noticed is that once people get to UNC, even though this university prides itself on meeting many of the needs for the community (i.e., the Carolina Covenant program for low-income students), as a university we have not been completely holistic in our approach.
Over the past year, I’ve heard countless anecdotal stories from people expressing how at times they’ve gone without food because of extenuating circumstances, greatly affecting their academics. Even more so, a great deal of the staff that work for this university are below the poverty level – and these are some of the most hard working individuals I’ve ever met. They are priceless gems of this university.
When I signed that box on May 1st, 2011, agreeing to commit at UNC, I also vowed to take on “Tarheel” as my second last name. We are a family. And as a family, we shouldn’t overlook and neglect those who need help. One way I believe that my university – my family – can extend our reach in providing more assistance to students and eventually the entire Carolina Community is through this program.
How did you get involved in this effort?
I got involved last Spring, around mid-April, when I joined Student Body President Christy Lambden’s Administration as Executive Assistant to the Senior Advisor of the Student Government (Kevin Claybren). When I started working with Kevin, he served as a support system for the Executive Assistants to each create an initiative that would positively affect the student body – my project became the food bank initiative. During the summer of 2013, I researched and contacted various universities that had food banks on their campuses, most notably Florida State University. After researching existing university food bank/pantry models, I proposed my idea to UNC’s Dean of Student Affairs, Jonathan Sauls, to get his insight. It was well received and in the fall of 2013, I began making arrangements to see that my food bank initiative became a reality.
What are the obstacles to establishing a food pantry on campus?
For me, the biggest obstacle I have faced is trying to get people to believe in my initiative even though it is a student-led initiative. Many members of the College and University Food Bank Alliance had their food pantries created through their university administrations, which made things a lot simpler.
What have been the steps involved in creating a food pantry? What are all of the tactics being used? What other groups are involved?
When I met with Dean Sauls in the summer of 2013, one key takeaway from our meeting was the creation of an advisory board for the food bank initiative. The advisory board is a key and essential element for this organization and is composed of student leaders, administrators, faculty, and several food relief enthusiasts. As a prospective organization that could potentially have tremendous positive effects on the student body, it is in our best interest to have a thorough and well-developed foundation.
The advisory board exists to provide insight and to help frame the support for this initiative. The advisory board will serve as the arms and legs of the organization in terms of getting resources on campus. In addition, by having this advisory board, I am taking the necessary steps to ensure that Carolina Cupboard is on the right track and will be making progressive moves after I graduate. By having key stakeholders on the advisory board, I am taking steps to ensure the sustainability of this food pantry, because even if I will no longer be attending the university, there will still be a food poverty issue and the need will still be here.
The fall of 2013 was spent personally contacting each member of the advisory board and gathering feedback. I formed a core team of individuals who are just as passionate about my initiative as I am. This spring we have been establishing partnerships with local churches to coordinate food drives, local food banks to recycle food, student organizations to coordinate food drives on campus, and local supermarkets. With partnerships with multiple food organizations, this will ensure that the food pantry has a steady intake of food. In addition, we are conceptualizing fundraising and other food drive efforts for the fall of 2014.
For other student governments that are considering a similar project, what advice would you give them? What have been the biggest challenges? Biggest surprises? Lessons learned?
For other student governments who are looking to create a university food pantry, I would say get a team together of passionate people who want to work on the project. You need proactive people to make this concept become a reality. From there, create an action plan. This action plan should detail the purpose: Who, What, Where, How, but most importantly, Why. The “why” is the most important piece to gather supporters.
- Once the action plan is created, make a timeline of what needs to be achieved for the next six months, as well as short and long-term goals.
- Start doing research on other university food banks/pantries.
- Develop a way to make the project sustainable (e.g., advisory board).
- Strategize ways to ensure the food pantry has a steady intake of food (e.g., food drives with local food banks, local supermarkets, churches, or student organizations).
- Reach out to administrators/faculty on campus to get their support. There’s nothing better than having university personnel on board with your project.
- Find a location for the pantry on campus that is accessible.
- Lastly, have patience. This project shouldn’t be created overnight. The food pantry will without a doubt have a positive impact on the student body, but there’s nothing worse than creating an unstable foundation for it to collapse or fall through a year later.
I’ll end by saying this: I fondly remember, when I was growing up, my mother saying, “Everyone has an invisible sign hanging around their neck that says, ‘Make me feel special and make me feel important.'” I created Carolina Cupboard not for myself but for other students who are in need on this campus to show we care. If I’ve learned anything over this past year, I’ve learned that people will support your project, your proposal, your dream, as long as you are passionate about it.
We interviewed a leader from the University of North Carolina Student Government about the student government’s efforts to establish a campus food pantry.
Please tell us your name and current position in student government. Please also tell us a little bit about who you are: your year, major, any other background info you’d like to share.
My name is Roderick Gladney and I am a current junior Chemistry major, minoring in African, African American, and Diaspora Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
How did you get involved in the UNC Student Government?
By serving as a member of the Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach Committee of the UNC Student Government for the 2012-2013 school year, I was able to see how this committee greatly impacts the student body by fostering diversity and inclusivity. I grew to love this organization because it was our mission to create an inclusive and welcoming social dynamic for the entire student body by promoting cultural awareness, celebrating diversity, and encouraging advocacy. By doing so, we hoped to catalyze the unification of students on this campus. And as a committee we take pride in bridging those gaps so that the students on this campus can live in harmony with one another.
This school year, I had the honor and privilege to expand my involvement in UNC’s Student Government by serving as one of the co-chairs for Multicultural Affairs and Diversity Outreach, as the liaison for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Planning Committee, and as the Executive Assistant to the Senior Advisor. The main mission for all of these capacities was to create a more inclusive, accepting environment at UNC by uniting Tar Heels of all backgrounds, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religious ideology, political affiliation, or socioeconomic status.
Why do you feel that the university needs a food pantry?
Honestly, the necessity for a food pantry on UNC’s campus is long overdue. The need for Carolina Cupboard comes at a time when individuals in our community are burdened by personal economic strife, thus contributing to students experiencing food poverty and insecurity. One thing I’ve noticed is that once people get to UNC, even though this university prides itself on meeting many of the needs for the community (i.e., the Carolina Covenant program for low-income students), as a university we have not been completely holistic in our approach.
Over the past year, I’ve heard countless anecdotal stories from people expressing how at times they’ve gone without food because of extenuating circumstances, greatly affecting their academics. Even more so, a great deal of the staff that work for this university are below the poverty level – and these are some of the most hard working individuals I’ve ever met. They are priceless gems of this university.
When I signed that box on May 1st, 2011, agreeing to commit at UNC, I also vowed to take on “Tarheel” as my second last name. We are a family. And as a family, we shouldn’t overlook and neglect those who need help. One way I believe that my university – my family – can extend our reach in providing more assistance to students and eventually the entire Carolina Community is through this program.
How did you get involved in this effort?
I got involved last Spring, around mid-April, when I joined Student Body President Christy Lambden’s Administration as Executive Assistant to the Senior Advisor of the Student Government (Kevin Claybren). When I started working with Kevin, he served as a support system for the Executive Assistants to each create an initiative that would positively affect the student body – my project became the food bank initiative. During the summer of 2013, I researched and contacted various universities that had food banks on their campuses, most notably Florida State University. After researching existing university food bank/pantry models, I proposed my idea to UNC’s Dean of Student Affairs, Jonathan Sauls, to get his insight. It was well received and in the fall of 2013, I began making arrangements to see that my food bank initiative became a reality.
What are the obstacles to establishing a food pantry on campus?
For me, the biggest obstacle I have faced is trying to get people to believe in my initiative even though it is a student-led initiative. Many members of the College and University Food Bank Alliance had their food pantries created through their university administrations, which made things a lot simpler.
What have been the steps involved in creating a food pantry? What are all of the tactics being used? What other groups are involved?
When I met with Dean Sauls in the summer of 2013, one key takeaway from our meeting was the creation of an advisory board for the food bank initiative. The advisory board is a key and essential element for this organization and is composed of student leaders, administrators, faculty, and several food relief enthusiasts. As a prospective organization that could potentially have tremendous positive effects on the student body, it is in our best interest to have a thorough and well-developed foundation.
The advisory board exists to provide insight and to help frame the support for this initiative. The advisory board will serve as the arms and legs of the organization in terms of getting resources on campus. In addition, by having this advisory board, I am taking the necessary steps to ensure that Carolina Cupboard is on the right track and will be making progressive moves after I graduate. By having key stakeholders on the advisory board, I am taking steps to ensure the sustainability of this food pantry, because even if I will no longer be attending the university, there will still be a food poverty issue and the need will still be here.
The fall of 2013 was spent personally contacting each member of the advisory board and gathering feedback. I formed a core team of individuals who are just as passionate about my initiative as I am. This spring we have been establishing partnerships with local churches to coordinate food drives, local food banks to recycle food, student organizations to coordinate food drives on campus, and local supermarkets. With partnerships with multiple food organizations, this will ensure that the food pantry has a steady intake of food. In addition, we are conceptualizing fundraising and other food drive efforts for the fall of 2014.
For other student governments that are considering a similar project, what advice would you give them? What have been the biggest challenges? Biggest surprises? Lessons learned?
For other student governments who are looking to create a university food pantry, I would say get a team together of passionate people who want to work on the project. You need proactive people to make this concept become a reality. From there, create an action plan. This action plan should detail the purpose: Who, What, Where, How, but most importantly, Why. The “why” is the most important piece to gather supporters.