Food insecurity is a growing concern among college students in the United States. At the University of Vermont, recent studies have shown that one in five students is food insecure.

According to Feed America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief program, food insecurity has the potential to harm college students’ ability to achieve their educational and professional goals.

Since its inception in February 2020, Rally Cat’s Cupboard, UVM’s student-run food pantry om the first floor of the Davis Center, has helped limit food insecurity at the school. According to Maeve Forbes, who helps run the cupboard, throughout the last few years, the program has grown from serving 30-40 students a week on average to more than 300 UVM community members a week.

“This growth in need has come with equal growth in the operation of the program,” Forbes said. “We now have 15-20 volunteers a week performing a myriad of duties, five local store partnerships giving weekly donations, and many office partnerships throughout UVM who host monthly food drives for us.”

The food cupboard has helped meet the demand of community members as they have experienced financial difficulties such as those due to Covid-19, food price inflation, and the housing crisis. “We will continue to work hard and grow to meet the need of our community members so that they may succeed in their endeavors throughout college and beyond,” she said.

“The importance of a program like this for not just students who come for distribution or those who volunteer but for the community as a whole is that it helps bring people together and destigmatize the conversation of food insecurity,” Forbes said. “Without the cupboard, the only ones who would know about struggles with food insecurity at UVM are those who were experiencing it or those who knew to ask. Now, anyone can walk through our doors and learn that they are either not alone in their struggles and people care enough to help or that there are people in their community who would benefit from a little help.”

A grant from the Catholic Center will allow the cupboard to order eggs throughout the winter for distribution. Eggs, Forbes explained, are one of the most requested items.

For Kim Allbee, campus minister at the Catholic Center, Rally Cat’s Cupboard “is meeting a great need on campus of serving the UVM community and supporting those who struggle with food insecurity. It also gives an opportunity for those who volunteer or support the cupboard in various ways to give back to the UVM community and work together to support each other.”

Follow @rallycatscupboard on Facebook and Instagram for updates or more information. Direct message on social media or email cupboard@uvm.edu to set up another time to get items.

Contact cupboard@uvm.edu to volunteer or make a food donation.

—Originally published in the Winter 2023 issue of Vermont Catholic magazine.