Skip to main content

Appalachian Today

News and events at Appalachian State University
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Accolades
  • Alumni
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Athletics
  • Awards and Honors
  • Community Engagement
  • Diversity
  • Events
  • Faculty and Staff
  • Gifts and Grants
  • Global
  • Health and Wellness
  • Publications
  • Research and Creative Works
  • Safety
  • Scholarships
  • Students
  • Sustainability
☰ Menu
  • Events
  • Webcams
  • Podcasts
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • Contact

Is your plate half empty or half full? Students benefit from food pantry

View larger image

Appalachian State University’s food pantry opened about a year ago in response to surveys that indicated food insecurity was above 46 percent for students. The pantry is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located in the Office of Sustainability. Submitted photo

46.2 percent of Appalachian students experienced food insecurity in the previous year, according to survey data.

About the pantry
  • Located in East Hall, bottom floor
  • Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
  • Offers non-perishable staples as well as seasonal, local fruits and vegetables as available
By Mary Giunca
Posted Nov. 1, 2017 at 12:10 p.m.

For the 2016-17 school year, Appalachian State University had 1,886 students who identified themselves as coming from homes that were at or below poverty guidelines, defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as $24,250 for a family of four.

Of those students, 960 received an institutional grant or scholarship, meaning that 49 percent of students who are at or below the poverty line are receiving no form of institutional aid.

46.2 percent of Appalachian students experienced food insecurity in the previous year, according to survey data.

That number, combined with a survey conducted by Appalachian’s Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management during the 2015-16 academic year that found 46.2 percent of students had experienced food insecurity over the previous year, had a lot of people on campus concerned about hungry students and ready to look for an efficient and compassionate way to help.

Low food security means there were multiple reports of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake. North Carolina had a 16 percent food insecurity rate in 2015, ranking it eighth among U.S. states in food insecurity.

Appalachian’s food pantry was opened a year ago to faculty, staff and students. The pantry operates from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The pantry started as a rolling cart and grew to a well-organized, 75-square-foot space with wooden shelves. Soups, canned goods, cereals and peanut butter are popular items.

“We get about two or three people visiting the pantry each day and many returning visitors,” said Jen Maxwell, university sustainability project specialist in Appalachian’s Office of Sustainability. “What we’ve seen is that when people come in and realize we’re a very kind, friendly staff, this makes them feel comfortable visiting the pantry.”

The success of the food pantry depends on getting the word out, Maxwell said. Her office has tried to increase its outreach to Appalachian’s staff and has 15 students on an outreach team.

Advocates for students

Dr. Angela Mead and Carla Ramsdell have been advocates for students’ food well-being, even when the subject is hard to bring up. These are their stories.

View larger image

Once a hungry student herself, Dr. Angela Mead stocked food for students in her office and listened to their stories. Photo by Marie Freeman

Dr. Angela Mead

Director of Student Services, The Honors College

When students come to Dr. Angela Mead stressed about school, she’ll ask them how long it’s been since the last time they’ve eaten a full meal. Sometimes the answer is “a few days.”

“My job is to help students succeed and they can’t if they’re hungry. Some students are honest and tell me they haven’t eaten in days. Others, you have to probe a bit. They’re sitting on my couch and they’re shaking. I’ll ask: ‘When was the last time you ate?’

“It often comes at the worst time. They run out of food money when they need to stay on their game for finals.

“When a student would come and say, ‘I’m struggling. I’m out of food,’ we’d go stock them up. Students started bringing their friends in saying, ‘I heard you have this.’ I realized this wasn’t just a couple of students. This was pretty widespread on campus.”

View larger image

Carla Ramsdell teaches Know Watts Cooking, a first-year seminar with a goal of reawakening a love of cooking healthful, nutritious food among students. Photo by Marie Freeman

Carla Ramsdell

Senior lecturer, Department of Physics and Astronomy

Carla Ramsdell teaches Know Watts Cooking, a first-year seminar on cooking. She recently asked her 22 students to “talk about holiday traditions around food.”

“Someone mentioned pumpkin pie and someone asked how to cook it,” she said. “A student said, ‘You just buy that Libby’s stuff in the can and put it in the pie.’”

“Students don’t have much money, so to buy high-end, prepared food is out of the question,” Ramsdell said. “They end up buying junk that fills them up. They could be buying beans, which cost little and deliver a lot of nutrition, but many of them don’t know how to cook beans.

“We really have to take back cooking,” she said. “We have to move away from this overly processed food tradition that we’ve embraced. When we do that, everything falls into place. Food insecurity happens because people rely on processed or fast food.

“The encouraging sign I see is that people want to move in this direction, [whereas] the limitations I see are that the raw skills aren’t in place.”

About the pantry
  • Located in East Hall, bottom floor
  • Open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
  • Offers non-perishable staples as well as seasonal, local fruits and vegetables as available
A community of ‘doers’
A community of ‘doers’

The Appalachian Community pulls together to address food insecurity in the High Country

Nov. 1, 2017

North Carolina has a higher-than-average food insecurity rate — 16 percent, ranking it eighth among the United States for the number of people who lack access to enough food for an active, healthy life. In comparison, a total of 13 percent of Americans were considered food insecure between 2013-15, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. When the Appalachian Community explores a social problem like this, it doesn’t “just talk.”

Read the story

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Community Engagement
  • Health and Wellness
  • Sustainability

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian

What do you think?

Share your feedback on this story.

Share

Topics

  • Community Engagement
  • Health and Wellness
  • Sustainability

Other Recent Posts

  • App State awards degrees to over 4,200 graduates ready to shape the future
    App State awards degrees to over 4,200 graduates ready to shape the future
  • Student research and creative projects spotlighted at App State’s annual showcase
    Student research and creative projects spotlighted at App State’s annual showcase
  • Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State
    Will Sears appointed vice chancellor of university advancement at App State
  • N.C. Governor Josh Stein to address graduates at App State commencement
    N.C. Governor Josh Stein to address graduates at App State commencement
  • App State honors 29 students, faculty and staff with 2025 Awards of Distinction
    App State honors 29 students, faculty and staff with 2025 Awards of Distinction
  • App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]
    App State to offer AI concentration in master’s programs [faculty featured]
    WFDD
  • Campus emergency siren test to be conducted May 7
    Campus emergency siren test to be conducted May 7
  • App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
    App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
  • Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
    Dr. Neva J. Specht appointed App State executive vice chancellor and provost
  • $2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
    $2 million grant funds scholarships, supports STEM education for over 50 App State students
  • App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26
    App State named Military Friendly School for 16th consecutive year, ranked a top 10 institution for 2025–26
  • Explore the future of business with new AI master’s degree tracks at App State
    Explore the future of business with new AI master’s degree tracks at App State

Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
  • Events
  • Videos
  • Galleries
  • In the News
  • Research & Arts
  • Awards
  • Experts
  • All News
  • Topics
  • Subscribe
  • For the media
  • COVID updates
  • Contact

App State

Copyright 2025 Appalachian State University. All rights reserved.

University Communications
ASU Box 32153
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-6156
[email protected]

Abouts

Disclaimer | EO Policy | Accessibility | Website manager: montaldipa (beltmr) .. | Website Feedback

Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram LinkedIn Snapchat