New grant helps reduce food insecurity and provide resources to students on campus

By Ashley Mountcastle '27

Food insecurity is often an unseen challenge on college campuses. As students balance classes, activities, jobs and financial responsibilities, access to basic necessities can be easily overlooked. At Roanoke College, RC Pantry works to address the issue of food insecurity by offering a place where students can walk in to grab food and essentials at no cost. 

“It's a food resource for anyone who feels they need food,” said Jesse Griffin, director of the Center for Civic Engagement, which runs RC Pantry. “There are no prerequisites. Anybody can show up at any point.”  

There are no fees or limits on the items that can be taken. The pantry is open to all students and aims to create a welcoming space and resource for those who need help. In addition to nonperishable food, it offers a variety of personal hygiene products and basic school supplies.  

Roanoke College recently received an $8,928 grant from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) through its Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program. The money will be used to support RC Pantry by helping stock shelves with more diverse food options and supplies, as well as improving the program’s equipment.  

Today, students use the pantry by picking the items they need, presenting their Maroon ID, and signing the visitor log. With funding from the grant, staff plans to purchase a card scanner, which will make the check-in process faster and more efficient, while also making it easier to track demand and ensure resources are available when students need them most. The program also plans to purchase a fridge to begin offering perishable staple items. 

The Hunger-Free Campus grant is an investment in student success and overall well-being. “When students are only focused on meeting basic needs like feeding themselves, it’s hard to focus on progressing toward a career and academics,” Griffin said.

By providing access to food and resources, Roanoke College helps remove barriers that may interfere with academic performance and overall physical, emotional, and mental well-being, while continuing to support students with different needs and circumstances.  

“We have to recognize that today’s college students come from very different backgrounds,” said Heather Johnson, senior director of grants and strategic partnerships. “We have commuters, international students, and students who work multiple jobs. Not all students have the same needs, and it’s important that we’re equipped as a college to put our students as the first priority and support them across their entire journey here at Roanoke.”

With the support of SCHEV’s grant, RC Pantry can continue to help students and ensure Maroons have the resources they need to thrive inside and outside of the classroom.  

For more information about RC Pantry, including how to support it, visit Morehead Hall or go online to roanoke.edu/RCPantry.