The season of giving began strong at UNCG with everyone coming together to stock pantry shelves and keep Spartan families fed. The donated food delivered to Spartan Open Pantry exceeded 1,200 pounds.
Organizers across campus thank all of those who contributed. Can by can, dollar by dollar, all that generosity adds up and is makes a difference for families at the end of the semester.
Thanksgiving for giving spirits
Staff Senate put out the call for non-perishable food donations along with other essential items for its Cornucopia of Care drive. They set up drop-off boxes all over campus in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Chair Carla Wilson announced the totals delivered to Spartan Open Pantry (SOP):
- 1202.73 pounds of food
- $2,525 in monetary donations
SOP staff shared this message of gratitude via Staff Senate: “Thank you so much for this extremely impactful food and donation drive. Our pantry is stuffed to the brim with food and hygiene items that will help families during the holidays.”
That success was made possible thanks to individual donors as well as whole units and departments that rallied together.
Student Success: More than Academics
The Division of Student Success collected dozens of items in support of SOP. Academic Support Programs Senior Director Stephanie Keene says this simple act of gathering, one donation at a time, carried the message that Spartans matter, and they don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone.
“Student success aren’t just buzz words we use in higher ed,” says Keene. “It’s a commitment to our students to support them holistically, both in and outside the classroom.”
For many students and their families, a missed grocery run isn’t just an inconvenience; it can mean reduced focus, heightened stress, and tough choices that no student should have to make.
Keen says Vice Provost for Student Success Regina McCoy told staff about a conversation with a student who had consistently faced food insecurity and worried about how they would get through Thanksgiving. She said the student told her that because of SOP, they did not have to face the choice between going hungry or focusing on school.
The story affirmed a truth the Student Success staff see every day: supporting students holistically is central to supporting academic goals, as they are more likely to stay engaged and invest in learning, growth, and community.
The giving continues
The opportunities to support the UNCG community are not over. Today, Dec. 10, is the last day to take part in Staff Senate’s Spartan Season of Giving. They are collecting gifts for six staff families and two student families who could use additional support this holiday season. Giving is just a click away, as their Amazon wish lists are available on the Staff Senate webpage.
You can also join Staff Senate get these gifts ready to deliver by attending the wrapping party on Dec. 15.
A Decade of Toys
And the giving did not stop with SOP. This year, UNCG celebrate its 10th Toys for Joy. Volunteers took their stations outside the Marcus T. Johnson Alumni House as participants drove past all the luminaries and holiday decor, laden with new toys for local children.
Chancellor Gilliam and his wife Jacquie began the initiative shortly after they joined UNCG. They partner with The Greensboro Chapter of The Links, Inc. to bring holiday joy to children living in foster care across the Triad. Approximately 11,000 children live in foster care in North Carolina, according the Children’s Home Society.
UNCG thanks everyone who took time out of their busy schedules at the end of semester to represent the best of Spartan spirit and service.
