Graduate Students Donate More Than 9,000 Meals to U of A Food Pantry

JD DiLoreto-Hill

Graduate students celebrate after packing more than 9,000 meals for the campus food pantry.

On Aug. 25, a few dozen graduate students gathered on campus to fight food insecurity for University of Arkansas students, faculty and staff. Event participants made 9,166 meals, which were donated to the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry.

The event was hosted by the Graduate and Professional Student Congress and organized by The Pack Shack. The Pack Shack is a local non-profit organization that strives to supply provisions and opportunities to those in need.

According to a 2016 University of Arkansas Food Security report, 38 percent of students on campus are food insecure. Furthermore, Arkansas has one of the highest food insecurity rates in the United States according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

"We are extremely grateful to everyone who participated in Saturday's successful event and for making it so much fun," said Graduate and Professional Student Congress President Arley Ward. "Food insecurity is one of our top priorities. No one on our campus should be without food. We strongly encourage anyone struggling in this respect to go to the Full Circle Food Pantry's website or email pantry@uark.edu."

For more information about the Graduate and Professional Student Congress and future events, please visit gpsc.uark.edu.