An aerial view of the 100-yard continuous table that spanned Appalachian’s Sanford Mall during Community FEaST 2018. The goals of the second annual event, which is hosted by the AppalFRESH (Appalachian Food Research for Equity, Sustainability and Health) Collaborative, are to build community by encouraging dialogue and storytelling about sustainable food, minimize waste and maximize local food sourcing. Photo by Marie Freeman
The Appalachian Community tackles hunger in the High Country
“Because of the dedication to excellence our faculty and staff embody every day, an Appalachian education is held in great value by alumni, families, other great institutions for higher education, employers and those who engage with and benefit from our graduates.
“Underlying this dedication is the knowledge that many of our students and families do or will need assistance during their Appalachian experience. Appalachian's faculty and staff work daily to employ systems and strategies to help students and families navigate the process of accessing assistance and identifying ways to alleviate the burden of obtaining a college education.”
Chancellor Sheri Everts
By Elisabeth Wall
Posted Oct. 19, 2018 at 1:40 p.m.
BOONE, N.C. — Scores of Appalachian students, staff and faculty aided by area volunteers are doing research and donating time and energy to ameliorate hunger in the local community, and a variety of programs are in place to assist students on our campus facing similar challenges.
In the four stories of this series, we explore the people and initiatives that are taking the following actions:
building awareness around food insecurity;
planning, preparing and providing free meals to go;
organizing drives to collect food and personal care items;
conducting research to expose areas of need, and;
stocking and staffing Appalachian’s food pantry and free store for the university’s students, staff and faculty.
“Because of the dedication to excellence our faculty and staff embody every day, an Appalachian education is held in great value by alumni, families, other great institutions for higher education, employers and those who engage with and benefit from our graduates.
“Underlying this dedication is the knowledge that many of our students and families do or will need assistance during their Appalachian experience. Appalachian's faculty and staff work daily to employ systems and strategies to help students and families navigate the process of accessing assistance and identifying ways to alleviate the burden of obtaining a college education.”
Appalachian’s food pantry and free store, located on the ground floor of East Hall in the Office of Sustainability, provide personal care and food items for all Appalachian Community members in their time of need.
Approximately 300 members of the Appalachian and Boone communities gathered around a 100-yard-long table on Sanford Mall to share food, fellowship and stories around sustainable food.
A food insecurity and homelessness survey conducted by Appalachian professor Jeffrey Bortz found 62 percent of Appalachian students experienced some aspect of food insecurity in the 2017–18 academic year.
By pairing leftover food items donated to the Hunger and Health Coalition with the freshly prepared entrees, senior nutrition and foods majors in Appalachian’s Department of Nutrition and Health Care Management offer hot, “Grab and Go” meals for local residents in need.
A new Mountaineer Meal Share program has been established to provide short-term assistance to AppCard holders in need of food. Once a simple testament of need is approved, funds up to $140 will be applied directly to the person’s AppCard Meal Account that they can use for any on-campus food purchase.
The drive was organized by Appalachian’s colleges of Arts and Sciences, Fine and Applied Arts and Education to honor their 50th anniversaries.
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.
“Because of the dedication to excellence our faculty and staff embody every day, an Appalachian education is held in great value by alumni, families, other great institutions for higher education, employers and those who engage with and benefit from our graduates.
“Underlying this dedication is the knowledge that many of our students and families do or will need assistance during their Appalachian experience. Appalachian's faculty and staff work daily to employ systems and strategies to help students and families navigate the process of accessing assistance and identifying ways to alleviate the burden of obtaining a college education.”
Chancellor Sheri Everts
Where to begin?
The process of assisting students begins with identifying who might need additional support. In the 2017–18 academic year:
2,405 students (12%) were at or below federal poverty guidelines
30% of in-state, undergraduate students received PELL Grants
68% of Appalachian students received some type of aid package
A new Mountaineer Meal Share program has been established to provide short-term assistance to AppCard holders in need of food. Once a simple testament of need is approved, funds up to $140 will be applied directly to the person’s AppCard Meal Account that they can use for any on-campus food purchase.
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:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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:
Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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