Bear Pantry
UNC's Bear Pantry is a collaborative initiative that strives to assist students who are faced with food insecurity. Having a food pantry on campus ensures that all members of our community can focus on their studies without worrying about where their next meal is coming from.
“We’re not just here to provide food, housing assistance or financial support; we’re here to rewrite the narrative. Seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign of wisdom and strength,” said Taylor Schiestel, '20, Director of the Center for Student Well-Being, where the Bear Pantry is housed. "We’re here to normalize asking for support.”
How will my gift be used?
Gifts today will empower the Bear Pantry to successfully achieve our mission of meeting the needs of our students by ensuring that our shelves remain stocked with food and hygiene items.
Your gift will allow the Bear Pantry to purchase items such as:
- Food (perishable and non-perishable)
- Shampoo
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste
- Laundry detergent
With your help, the Bear Pantry can focus on stocking the pantry with more items to meet the growing demand and provide other items to meet the needs of students with dietary restrictions. Funds enable larger shopping orders to be purchased to serve a larger number of students and allow us to expand our operations to provide more effective service to students as we work towards a hunger-free campus.
Bear Pantry visitor
“The Bear Pantry has saved my life. Having access to a resource that provides the necessities keeps me energized and healthy for my educational journey. I cannot begin to imagine what I would do without it. To all who have contributed and to the Bear Pantry staff, thank you, you are saving lives!”
1:1 Match!
The first $5,000 in donations to the Bear Pantry during Bears Give Back will be matched dollar-for-dollar, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor.
Thank you for helping keep hunger out of the curriculum!