One year down, Carolina Cupboard plans for the future

Coming up on the one-year anniversary of its opening, Carolina Cupboard has big ideas for what this next year can bring for students.

In fall 2014, then-senior Roderick Gladney officially launched Carolina Cupboard, a food bank for students, staff and faculty. Gladney is now a graduate student at UNC’s Eshelman School of Pharmacy.

The organization is now chaired by Shawnna Gladney, Roderick Galdney’s sister.

Shawnna Gladney said she has been there from the beginning of the organization. She said she played a big role in organizing the crew to help get Carolina Cupboard running.

Because the organization’s anniversary is during the fall, Gladney wants to have a harvest-themed event for the campus to celebrate.

“This is a chance to learn about Carolina Cupboard and to tour the pantry,” she said.

One goal Shawnna Gladney has for the coming year is to let students know this resource is available. The event will let people know the organization is located in the basement of Avery Residence Hall. The pantry is open Monday and Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

She also wants to have more collaborations with other organizations on campus.

“I think a lot of people who have heard about us ... when it relates to what they’re doing, are reaching out to us,” she said.

The process needed for students to utilize the food bank is anonymous. All a students need to do is sign in with their PIDs, which Shawnna Gladney said is just to make sure they are a student, and they can get food.

She said the executive team members like to keep up with who comes in, and if they notice someone comes in often, they will try to connect them with more outside resources.

“We are an immediate relief to students, but we are not the only resource,” Shawnna Gladney said.

She said the locations of grocery stores are not very convenient to students, and many stores such as Harris Teeter, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s can be expensive.

“Not only is it an access issue, but it’s also a financial issue,” she said. “There are a lot of different aspects we overlook because Chapel Hill is a town for the affluent.”

Taffye Clayton, associate vice chancellor for diversity and multicultural affairs, said when she heard about the project from Roderick Gladney, she thought it was important.

Clayton said financial stressors can contribute to student need for more resources regarding food.

“In some cases I’ve found there are some students committed to helping families in any way they can, this can mean financially, as much as they are committed to their studies,” she said.

Clayton said Carolina Cupboard aligns well with the spirit of the UNC community.

“I’m so impressed with the way Carolina students care so much about people and things other than themselves,” she said.

She said she hopes the organization will be able to sufficiently meet the needs of all the students it serves.

Nathanael Jones, vice chairman of fundraising for Carolina Cupboard, said he did not think about food insecurity before he got involved with the organization.

He said that in the first few weeks of classes it is difficult to make sure the shifts are covered because there are not a lot of people to help.

Jones said he thinks this is a good cause to get behind and wants the organization to do more outreach.

“This year I hope we will branch out and have more people come by and utilize our resources.”

@SUGARcain_

university@dailytarheel.com