Inside SU’s growing fight against food insecurity

Nelson stocking the pantry. Image courtesy of Tessah Good.

Christine Nelson wakes up at 7 a.m. and looks down at what seems like a never-ending to-do list of tasks she must complete throughout the day.

“Community outreach, oversee the executive board, create schedules, go to and from donation bins around campus and collect food, answer emails, stock shelves… “

While her duties as president of Food for the Flock may change depending on the day, her mission has remained the same for the past four years: fight against food insecurity.

Food insecurity remains a significant issue among college students, both across campus and nationwide. On a broader scale, this issue is prevalent on some of the largest campuses. A 2023-2024 survey conducted by Temple University found that 41% of 74,350 students reported experiencing food insecurity. Fewer than half of those students reported having consistent access to adequate food. Additionally, 48% of these students reported not utilizing college resources, with two-thirds stating they didn’t know about on-campus services.

Nelson, a social work major, is taking a stance surrounding food insecurity by leading SU’s own food pantry – Food for the Flock.

Food for the Flock offers non-perishable food, canned goods and hygiene items to anyone in need. SU students, staff and faculty can access the pantry during hours of operations at no cost, selecting items that meet their needs. Users are allowed to fill up to two bags of groceries and personal items per week, with no questions asked.

Its mission is “to fight food insecurity and break down social stigma” surrounding the issue.

After becoming a volunteer her freshman year, Nelson sought a leadership role within Food for the Flock. She climbed up the executive board later, starting as a desk attendant her junior year. Shortly after, she transitioned to vice president before becoming the organization’s president this past semester.

Nelson manages Food for the Flock’s daily operations to ensure the pantry remains accessible and stocked. She oversees nearly every aspect of the organization, from training and scheduling volunteers to maintaining donation boxes placed around campus. She also coordinates outreach efforts by partnering with other student organizations, helping to expand awareness about food insecurity and the resources at hand.

For Nelson, the most crucial part of the role is continuing to make sure the pantry fosters a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.

“The door is always open,” Nelson said. “Everyone deserves food and has the right to food.

“Food insecurity is a very real thing. There is such a stigma towards food insecurity, and I want every person to feel that they’re heard, that they are seen, and that we are doing something to address food insecurity.”

The impact of Nelson's efforts can be seen directly through those who utilize the pantry.

Nelson checks the dates of cans before they hit the shelves. Image courtesy of Tessah Good.

According to Nelson, the program has expanded year after year. The pantry currently receives more than 30 visitors per week; a significant increase compared to when Nelson first became involved in the mission. As of last semester, the pantry had more than 90 student volunteers.

“When I first started as a volunteer freshman year, I was probably one of the only volunteers,” Nelson said. “So now that we have so many volunteers, it’s amazing and I am very grateful for them all.”

To support demand, Food for the Flock has placed seven donation bins across campus. The seventh donation station was implemented just last month in Holloway Hall, marking a new milestone for the organization.

Nelson carrying donations from the Food for the Flock donation station.

Food for the Flock growth in the past few years has helped to secure this expansion. In 2023, Food for the Flock created its first off-campus donation station at University Park Apartments Clubhouse.

Additional evidence of the program’s success traces back to the year prior. Food for the Flock received a $13,000 grant in 2022 from the Maryland Higher Education Commission. The funding allowed the organization to update fixtures, expand donation boxes and support operations.

One of the most impactful moments Nelson witnessed during her time leading the program was the temporary pause on SNAP benefits. She said the pantry experienced its busiest period, showing her how much of an essential resource the pantry is for those who rely on it.

“The numbers are constantly growing, so it [food insecurity] does exist and there is no way around that,” Nelson said. “It exists on every college campus, not just Salisbury.”

Similar growth trends are being seen at other universities that are also establishing food pantries. The University of Oklahoma reported its pantry participation doubled in recent years, skyrocketing from 180 visitors to more than 450.

Desk attendant Jahniah Johnson and financial officer Murtaza Aqil have both worked directly with Nelson in accomplishing Food for the Flock’s goal.

Johnson, who is also a social work major completing her senior year, checks people in and out of the pantry and oversee volunteers. Under Nelson’s leadership, she has seen Food for the Flock flourish after getting involved last semester.

“There has been a lot of more attendance from fall to now,” Johnson said.

She said doing her job without Nelson’s guidance would be extremely difficult. Nelson always makes sure Johnson knows she is just one text away.

“There couldn’t have been anybody else better to do her job for this whole year,” Johnson said. “She is always willing to lend a helping hand.”

Johnson said it is crystal clear Nelson puts her heart into everything she does with Food for the Flock.

“She always wants to promote Food for the Fock for the better to get more interest from students and to get more donations,” Johnson said. “She’s the best.”

Aquil, a political science major, became involved in Food for the Flock a year and a half ago. He oversees all orders and deliveries, specifically with the Maryland Food Bank.

He reflected on an experience that happened a few weeks ago when Food for the Flock ran into a “hiccup,” after receiving a food order carrying mac and cheese – a food they recently switched from refrigerator safe to a freezer variant.

“Thankfully our mini fridge was able to hold it, but not for too long,” Aqil said. "I was like ‘Hey, if we don’t get these out in four days, they’re going to go bad.’”

It was at that moment Aqil said he realized this was more than just a role to Nelson, this was her passion.

“She [Nelson] took all of them and made sure they were in a proper freezer,” Aqil said. “She was like ‘I will get them out to people who need it because I don’t want it to go to waste.’

“She’s able to adjust anything on the spot and tackle it head on. She is awesome.”

Despite its success, Food for the Flock still faces challenges. Nelson said the pantry can experience shortages during times such as winter break and summer break, when fewer students are on campus and donations begin to decline. These seasonal gaps make it difficult to maintain consistent inventory levels. Although the organization can place food orders at the Maryland Food Bank, it is a process.

For Nelson, she says one of her biggest challenges has been stepping into the role as president this semester, not because it’s hard, but because she wants to ensure it operates smoothly as she navigates taking on this new responsibility.

As a full-time student, Nelson balances her presidency with her schoolwork, being a student ambassador for the College of Health and Human Services and a member of Girls on Top of the World. She says regardless of her demanding schedule she makes Food for the Flock her top priority.  Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Nelson says she has spent more than 500 hours volunteering.

“It has been a lot,” Nelson said.

But for her, she “wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Truly everything I do is just so rewarding, so that is just what makes everything worth it.”

She said one of her top priorities this semester has been promoting more outreach and collaborations with campus organizations to maintain a steady amount of donations.

“I don’t ever want Food for the Flock to go away because so many students utilize it.”

Food for the Flock can look at other universities as a roadmap to how these limitations can be diminished. Other institutions have combatted challenges by implementing self-service lockers, which help to break the stigma surrounding food insecurity. This allows users to access the pantries items discreetly and without a volunteer present.

According to Parcel Pending, Bunker Hill Community College introduced this model through its DISH Food Pantry and has seen rising numbers. In 2024, the program distributed more than 95,000 pounds of food, fulfilled over 3,200 grocery orders and facilitated nearly 40,000 grab-and-go visits. These solutions highlight potential ways Food for the Flock can continue to evolve and expand access while further reducing stigma for those in need.

Food available for students. Image courtesy of Tessah Good.

Nelson said Food for the Flock has become more than just another task on her list - it has become a part of who she is.

“I’m very lucky to have grown up the way I did, so my number one thing I want to do is to give back to the world, truly,” Nelson said. “I’m just to fortune and lucky, so my biggest thing is to just help other people that unfortunately, didn’t have the best upbringing.”

“I love helping people. I love people in general. I just love everyone.”  

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Article By TESSAH GOOD

Editor-in-Chief