On Oct. 16, Spartan Dining hosted SPICEFUL, an event celebrating food, flavor, and community while supporting campus food security. As part of the initiative, Spartan Dining partnered with Wesley-Luther and Spartan Open Pantry to sponsor and serve the Thursday Night Family Dinner at the Smith Campus Ministries Center.

Each week, this dinner provides a free, home-cooked meal and a welcoming space for students, faculty, and staff to gather, relax, and connect. Last week’s theme, “Queer-aoke,” brought together more than 100 Spartans for a lively evening filled with good food, conversation, and music.

Campus Executive Chef Darelle Bey, Campus Dietitian Sharniquia White MS, RDN, LDN, and Marketing Manager Des St. Cyr prepared and served a Caribbean-inspired menu featuring grilled jerk chicken with pineapple salsa, Jamaican rice and peas, sautéed cabbage, and fried plantains. Before the dinner, UNCG students also joined a mini teaching kitchen to help make the pineapple salsa and learn about fresh ingredients.

The evening highlighted Spartan Dining’s ongoing commitment to combating food insecurity and building community through shared meals. Plans are underway for Spartan Dining to sponsor Queer-aoke Dinner once a month, continuing this meaningful partnership with Wesley Luther and the Spartan Open Pantry.