Give 4 Garnet 2022 is May 18. We hope you will support the University of South Carolina’s College of Social Work Carolina Fund as we work to tackle food insecurity among our students.
Food insecurity is defined as “the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.” In 2020, an estimated one in eight Americans were food insecure; that’s more than 38 million Americans. Many of our neighbors fall into this category, and we may never know it.
This insecurity adversely effects college students. Here at the College of Social Work, students often find themselves unable to consistently secure nutritious food. To meet that need, the university created the Gamecock Pantry. Still, some students were too embarrassed to admit they needed help. Our faculty members work diligently, training students to advocate for others, but they often find it difficult to do the same for themselves.
At the college, we established our own pantry here in Hamilton. Students can grab shelf-stable pantry staples and between-class snacks with no embarrassment. Items in the pantry are donated by College of Social Work faculty and staff members; however, we hope to expand our offerings. Our goal is to keep our pantry stocked year-round, add personal care and household items and professional items, including interview attire and electronics.
Please support the College of Social Work. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and serves as an inspiration to our students.