As the semester draws to a close, UNC Greensboro is rallying together to support Spartans who may be experiencing food insecurity. Leading this important effort is the Spartan Open Pantry (SOP), a vital campus resource that ensures students, faculty, staff, and recent alumni have access to healthy food and essential items when they need them most.

Many campus units support SOP throughout the year, including Staff Senate, which organizes a collection drive each semester to help fill the shelves at Smith Campus Ministries Center. This fall’s drive, “Cornucopia of Care,” is Nov. 6-20. They will collect critical supplies at more than a dozen drop-off sites across campus.

How to participate

Items in high demand include:

Drop-off sites

Bryan School, 4th Floor

Curry Building, 3rd Floor

Coleman Building, 2nd Floor Atrium

Graham Building, 1st and 2nd Floors

Jackson Library, 1st Floor

MHRA Lobby

Mossman Lobby

Nursing and Instructional Building, 2nd Floor

School of Education Building Lobby

Sullivan Science Building, 2nd Floor

UNCG Police Department Lobby

Weatherspoon Art Museum

840 Neal Street, 1st Floor Hallway

Spartan Open Pantry ready to help

Executive Director Andrew Mails-Saine said that SOP is on hand to help those affected by rising food costs and job loss. Many full-time students also have children or help support their families. “While we have already seen some effects from federal employee furloughs, we expect a significant increase in usage starting this coming week,” he said. “Following last year’s record of 75,462 pounds distributed, we had already estimated that we would distribute 90,000 pounds of food in 2025-26, based on our average year-to-year increase before the government shutdown.”

Although the need may be particularly strong now, SOP works to support UNCG members year-round.

“We will need everyone who is a partner and supports the SOP’s work to help in any way they can,” said Mails-Saine. “If you can donate, volunteer, or organize, now is the time. In the Division of Student Affairs and across the University, we are already marshaling as many resources as possible to meet this challenge. We will do everything we can to ensure that no Spartan goes hungry.”

The pantry is open at these times:

Monday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday-Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 – 9 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Monetary Donations 

The SOP accepts monetary donations to purchase food at significantly discounted rates. 

UNCG operates the Spartan Food Insecurity Fund, which assists SOP with food costs to stock the main pantry and “SOP to GO” locations around campus.

Donations also may be made to the SAFE Fund, which supports students experiencing crises by providing one-time emergency financial assistance.