Giving Tuesday efforts support the Feed the Pack Food Pantry

More than 1,100 pounds of food and supplies were donated to the NC State “Feed the Pack” food pantry as part of a university-wide donation drive in celebration of Giving Tuesday, Tuesday, Nov. 27.

#GivingTuesday is recognized as a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. Hosted on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, #GivingTuesday focuses on celebrating and supporting philanthropy through giving.

The 1,100-pound total surpassed the largest previous donation of 700 pounds.

[pullquote cite=”Shannon DuPree, director of wellness” color=”wolfpackred”]I am extremely proud of our campus community for continuously working together to address food insecurities at NC State. Each item donated will go to a student or employee in need.[/pullquote]

According to statistics from NC State, approximately 14 percent of NC State students experiencing low food security, meaning many are cutting portion sizes, skipping meals, eating less often or going hungry.

To encourage campus groups to donate items that are in highest demand, a challenge was organized and points were designated, with higher points designated for items most needed by the food party.

More than 22 university departments and student organizations donated items.

One university department and one registered student organization were recognized as highest-donating organizations. Student Health Services and the American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers (ASABE) received 509 and 400 points, respectively. Both organizations received an engraved brick to acknowledge the achievement.

“I think that campus groups coming together to support our own community is what makes the Wolfpack family truly special,” said Justin Traenkle ’19, a biological and agricultural engineering major and ASABE president.

“As the student organization representing the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, we have a strong connection to North Carolina agriculture and how we feed people. It is awesome to know that ASABE’s efforts made a positive impact on our campus community and we hope to continue this tradition in future years. We would love to use the example of our success to encourage other organizations to join us in the future and continue to make NC State’s campus as great as it can be.”

“We are beyond grateful for the generosity of all of our donors on #GivingTuesday,” said Thu Le, executive director of the Feed the Pack Food Pantry. “The food and hygiene products that were collected will help the pantry stay stocked well into the new year, and the monetary donations will continue to support the mission of the food pantry so that we can be a sustainable resource for the NC State community.”

TIAA, the official event sponsor, donated $5,000 dollars to the pantry and provided volunteers to assist with donation processing.

“For our centennial year, TIAA has been celebrating those who make a difference in our communities and we’re excited to contribute $5,000 to NC State’s very own ‘Feed the Pack’ pantry focused on combating food insecurity in the community,” said Bruce Sheinhaus, senior relationship manager for TIAA. “TIAA is proud to support Global Giving Day, a unique opportunity that brings together faculty, staff and students working to make an impact in the local community and rallying around an important cause.”

If you are someone you know is in need, visit Feed the Pack Pantry located in Honors and Scholars Village Commons.