A new campus-wide initiative at the University of North Dakota (UND) aims to raise awareness and support for students facing food insecurity through the second annual Pack the Pantry Campus Challenge. This initiative, which runs from February 19 to March 5, 2024, encourages the university community to contribute to the Food for Thought Food Pantry, ensuring that students do not face hunger while pursuing their education.
Kristi Okerlund, director of student involvement and parent programs, emphasizes the importance of this challenge, stating that any effort to support students translates into significant wins for their academic success. “You can’t be academically successful when you’re hungry,” she noted, underscoring the critical link between food security and educational achievement.
Last year’s inaugural challenge saw participation from 14 teams, resulting in donations of 3,594 items and $4,325 raised through online contributions. The current challenge has already surpassed the previous year’s participation, with 17 teams registered to compete. Among the leading teams as of February 26 are Hunger Heroes, representing housing and residence life staff, Alphabet Soup from the Chester Fritz Library, and McCANnel Hall. Hunger Heroes has brought in 448 pantry items, Alphabet Soup has collected 66 items and $310 in online donations, while McCANnel Hall has contributed 355 items.
Community Outreach and Support Initiatives
The challenge is part of the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines’ three-year strategic plan, which emphasizes community outreach and collaboration. Maridee Shogren, dean of the college, expressed her commitment to the initiative, stating, “From a mom perspective, it breaks my heart to think that there are students who are hungry.” She recognizes the stress that food insecurity can impose on students, making academic success more challenging.
Okerlund has observed that essential items, such as white rice, vegetable oil, toilet paper, and laundry soap, tend to disappear quickly from pantry shelves. More unique items often vanish within an hour of arrival, highlighting the immediate demand for various food products.
In conjunction with the Pack the Pantry event, a presentation titled Feeding Futures was held on February 26 at the Memorial Union. This event featured discussions led by students and faculty on the pressing issue of food insecurity at UND. Topics included barriers to food security, the impact of food insecurity on students, and potential solutions to alleviate the challenges faced by those in need.
During the presentation, Jeffrey Anvari-Clark, an assistant professor of social work, proposed several actionable ideas, including emergency food stipends, a food endowment fund, and universal campus meals. He pointed out that while younger students in middle and high school do not typically manage their own meal budgets, college students are expected to do so while juggling their academic responsibilities. “In some ways, they’re actually sitting in the same type of situation where they’ve got lower material means,” he said, emphasizing the need for systemic support for students.
As the challenge progresses, the university community is encouraged to contribute to the Food for Thought Food Pantry, reinforcing a collective commitment to ensuring that all students have access to necessary resources for their well-being and academic success.
