Here’s how Carolina strives to ensure Tar Heels are fed
Dean of Students Desirée Rieckenberg explains the Carolina Food Pantry Network’s work and how you can help.
Reliable access to food is an issue on campuses across the country. At UNC-Chapel Hill, close to a quarter of students experience food insecurity at some point during their enrollment, said Desirée Rieckenberg, dean of students.
Rieckenberg helps lead the Carolina Food Pantry Network, launched in fall 2024, building upon existing efforts across campus.
Rieckenberg discussed the CFPN’s work and how Tar Heels — students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members — can help.
What is the Carolina Food Pantry Network?
It’s a system of food pantries designed to support student access to food resources and maximize their opportunities to connect with support services close to where they spend the most time learning.
How many pantries are there and where?
There are four pantries in our network.
The student-led Carolina Cupboard in SASB North is our primary hub for visitors, distribution and partnerships. We work alongside the student leaders, and this is the first year we’ve seen them expand operations. They were open for the first day of classes and have more drop-in hours than in recent years.
The Bondurant Hall Food Pantry primarily serves health sciences students. The Bynum Hall Food Pantry primarily serves graduate students. In the McColl Building is the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School Food Pantry. While each location has a primary audience, students may visit any of the pantries in the network.
UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health also operates CJ’s Cupboard, open to its students in McGavran-Greenberg Hall, and Jessica’s Cupboard in ITS Manning is open to UNC School of Nursing students. The Campus Y also sponsors a community refrigerator in the annex of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union.
We know the CFPN is just one tool and resource to address the needs of campus. We have partners across campus working to deliver resources.
What’s new this year?
We’re looking to use our usage data and inventory to explore how we meet needs and learn where we can grow and improve to make an impact in meaningful ways.
We’re also excited to be launching a pilot program with Carolina Dining Services, initiated by Student Government, that allows each student with a dining plan to donate one swipe to a fund directly supporting students who need access to food. They will be able to access the Top of Lenoir and Chase Dining Hall with these additional meal swipes.
What would you tell students who may be insecure or nervous about accessing these resources?
Whether you stop by a pantry location or reach out to the Dean of Students office, know that you will be provided as much support as the University can offer. We will hold your stories and experiences in spaces that protect your privacy.
The new Hello Heels app also has an opt-in notification system for students who want timely updates on food options around campus.
How you can help
- Students can volunteer with a student organization fighting food insecurity. Contact the Dean of Students Office for information on how to get involved.
- Others can donate supplies to the Carolina Cupboard or give money to the CFPN and the Basic Needs fund.
In addition to the moral obligation to feed others, why is this work important?
We recognize that students who feel secure around their access to food and other fundamental resources like housing and finances are going to be able to focus on things that allow them to be successful in and outside of the classroom and truly engage in what is to be a Tar Heel.
Food insecurity doesn’t just affect students. Who else can access CFPN resources?
Anyone with a PID. The work we’re leading is tailored around supporting students, but the reality is food security impacts many parts of campus. We encourage folks who need resources to connect with one of the pantries.
