Food insecurity is an issue many college campuses continue to face. Recent surveys suggest that out of 195,000 students at four-year colleges, nearly 30% have reported that they struggle to feed themselves and their families. For students at two-year colleges, that percentage is even higher. To help ease the burden, colleges and universities across the nation have used grants and other funding opportunities to create food pantries that provide students and faculty with food, drinks, and other basic essentials. The University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Bear Essentials Food Bank has seen the impact the pantry has had on its community. Wendy Holbrook, assistant vice president for student affairs, oversees the pantry and knows how essential their services are to families who struggle to have their basic needs met.
IN THIS BLOG:
What is the Bear Essentials Food Pantry at the University of Central Arkansas (UCA)?
The Bear Essentials Food Pantry is an on-campus resource established in 2014 to support UCA students and faculty facing food insecurity. Initially starting as a small closet with food items, it has since expanded to a larger space, operating Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing food, drinks, and basic essentials to those in need.
How is the Bear Essentials Food Pantry funded?
The pantry operates without using student funds, relying entirely on grants, donations, and other funding opportunities. The UCA Foundation serves as its fiscal partner, and it is affiliated with the Arkansas Food Bank. Notable funding sources include grants from the Arkansas Hunger Alliance, the Arkansas Food Bank, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, and a $12,500 grant from the Kroger Foundation. Additionally, faculty and staff contribute through a monthly payroll deduction program, and student organizations host food drives throughout the year.
What services does the Bear Essentials Food Pantry provide?
The pantry offers a variety of food items, including fresh produce sourced from campus gardens, basic staples like rice, bread, bottled water, milk, and juice, as well as culturally relevant items for international students. Beyond food, it supplies toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, baby food, diapers, and kitchen essentials like can openers, plates, bowls, and utensils.
Who can access the Bear Essentials Food Pantry, and how does it operate?
The pantry is open to all UCA students and faculty members in need. It is managed by student volunteers and a part-time pantry director, ensuring that the services are accessible and responsive to the community's needs. The pantry's operations are designed to provide a safety net for those facing unexpected financial hardships or food insecurity.
How does the Bear Essentials Food Pantry assess and address food insecurity on campus?
After six years of operation, UCA's Honors College conducted a "Campus Food Insecurity Survey" to evaluate the pantry's impact and identify areas for improvement. This assessment helps the university understand the extent of food insecurity among students and faculty, allowing for data-driven decisions to enhance the pantry's services and outreach efforts.
In collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Health, AFMC aims to mobilize partners and collaborators to advance health equity and address social determinants of health related to health disparities of chronic diseases, including COVID-19, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Visit our website for a list of resources you can use to address social determinants of health, including food insecurity.
Identifying the Need and Acting
“The Bear Essentials Food Pantry opened in 2014 after faculty and staff members realized that students had a need for these services,” Holbrook says. Many non-traditional students from various backgrounds did not have enough money to buy food and either skipped a meal or asked for help to find food. The university saw a need to start a food bank on campus and began to take action.
The pantry started as a small closet stocked with food, but as the need grew, so did the pantry. “In 2020, the pantry was relocated to a larger space on campus, and we hired a part-time pantry director to manage it,” Holbrook says. The pantry is now open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday all year round, except on school holidays or other days when the campus is closed.
Relying on Local Funding Resources
No student funds go toward maintaining the pantry services. The pantry, run by student volunteers, receives all of its funding from grants, donations, and other funding opportunities. “The UCA Foundation is our fiscal partner,” Holbrook says. “We are an affiliate of the Arkansas Food Bank.” The UCA Bear Essentials Food Pantry has received grants from the Arkansas Hunger Alliance, the Arkansas Food Bank, and the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Additionally, they have received a $12,500 grant from the Kroger Foundation to support their efforts.
“The UCA community is also very generous,” Holbrook adds. “Many faculty and staff participate in the monthly payroll deduction program to support the pantry.” UCA also has a Day of Giving, the university’s largest fundraising campaign. Student organizations also host several food drives throughout the year to keep the pantry well-stocked for students and faculty that wish to use it.
Keeping Up with the Data
After the pantry had been open for about six years, the university Honors College conducted a “Campus Food Insecurity Survey” to assess food insecurity on campus. While the results they received only represented around 4.4% of the student population, demographic data revealed that the results were indicative of the larger student population. Across all racial and ethnic groups represented in the survey, they found that “71% (Asian students) to 93.75% (Hispanic students) reported they have sometimes not had enough money to buy food and had to ask for help.” The results also showed that while a large percentage of students from these same demographic backgrounds reported awareness of the Bear Essentials Food Pantry, there was still a disparity in the number of students who reported sometimes not having enough money to buy food and those who reported sometimes utilizing the pantry.
Continuing to Serve
Since the survey, more work has been done to advertise the pantry and ensure students and staff have their needs met. “Students and staff often express their gratitude for this service,” Wendy says. “Based on the number of visits and individuals served, we’re clearly meeting a need.” In 2021, the pantry had 3142 visitors, an average of around 260 visits each month. In 2022, the numbers jumped up to 5143 visits, with an average of 428 visits each month. “To put it differently, in fall 2022, we distributed 24,000 pounds of food. In the spring of 2023, we distributed 29,000 pounds.”
“We have students that come in once per month who say how thankful they are for our service, and we also have students we’ve become more familiar with who visit once per week,” Holbrook says. Faculty and staff have also been visiting the pantry, and while Holbrook says the number of faculty and staff visiting has not increased, those who do visit do so more frequently.
“I was speaking with a non-traditional student who had her son with her. He looked to be about four or five. They opened the freezer, and we had chicken nuggets available. Her son just squealed with delight,” Holbrook says. “He ran and got another bag. It was just a great moment.” The pantry has also received positive feedback from university staff. “I have had staff who tell me that their husband has lost his job or their children have moved back in and they were grateful to have the safety net that the pantry provides when unexpected things like that occur,” she says.
Services Offered
The pantry keeps various food items on hand, including fresh produce (courtesy of campus gardens). “We keep the basic food staples, like rice, bread, bottled water, milk, and juice. We even have students who will help us shop for things that are staples for international students, like rice vinegar. Things you wouldn’t think about, but we know our students need,” Holbrook says. Protein and produce are food items that Holbrook says every pantry needs.
In addition to food, the Bear Essentials Food Pantry also offers toiletries, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, baby food, and diapers, as well as cutlery and appliances, like can openers, plates, bowls, and utensils.
The efforts made by colleges and universities to address food insecurity on campus are crucial in supporting students and faculty who face these challenges. The UCA Bear Essentials Food Pantry is just one example of how institutions are taking action to ensure that no one goes hungry. By providing a reliable source of food and basic essentials, these pantries are making a significant impact on the lives of those in need. As we continue to raise awareness and advocate for solutions, it is our hope that more campuses will follow suit and prioritize the well-being of their community members. Together, we can create a future where every student has access to the resources they need to thrive. For more information on food pantries, including a start-up kit for starting a food pantry on a college campus, check out our recent post on college food insecurity.
To donate to UCA's Bear Essentials Food Pantry, scan the QR code below.
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Meet Wendy Holbrook
Wendy Holbrook is the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of Central Arkansas. She is a native of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Wendy earned a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from UCA and has 25 years of experience in higher education.
