Full Circle Food Pantry Turns 10

Johnny Doan

On Feb. 7, 2021, the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry turned 10! The Pantry started in 2011 with the intention to serve the campus community in the area of food insecurity. Over the past 10 years, not only that has happened but so much more too.  

As we look back on our decade of service, our team has been looking back at data to quantify some of the impact Full Circle has made on the campus community. Since the 2014 launch of GivePulse, a service tracking system managed through the Center for Community Engagement, Full Circle has engaged 838 volunteers, amassing 15,500 total service hours! Since implementing more robust data tracking in October of 2017, 29,129 members of our U of A and UAMS-NW community have been served through our various programs.   

The first week Full Circle opened, they served 12 community members. Now Full Circle is serving upwards of 800 community members per month! The pantry has grown to having a garden, composting, partnering with local organizations, creating accessible cooking classes, and, most recently, a locker system to increase opportunities for community members in need to receive assistance! 

To celebrate the great accomplishments, a group of students are putting together a yearlong celebration.  From food drives, to providing clients with cake making supplies, virtual events and more. Be sure to like Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Food Pantry on Facebook and follow the VAC on Instagram at @UAVAC to stay up-to-date on all of our events.  

Want to get involved right away? We have some opportunities for you! The Food Pantry is putting together a collaborative cookbook and wants recipe submissions from everyone across campus! Whether you are a faculty, staff, student, supporter, etc, you can be featured in the 10th anniversary Full Circle Food Pantry Cookbook. Head to this link to submit a recipe and stay tuned for how to get a copy of your own.