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According to a 2017 Honors thesis survey, 46.1 percent of University of Mississippi students face food insecurity. Grove Grocery, the University of Mississippi Food Pantry, is committed to ending campus hunger and alleviating poverty by discreetly providing nutritious food products and hygiene products free of charge to students and employees in the Ole Miss community.
However, now more than ever we need your help.
During holiday breaks, many students struggle with food insecurity, as the meal sources and safety nets they depend on during the semester are no longer available to them. This is especially concerning this year, as winter break has been extended in order to better protect UM students, faculty and staff from the coronavirus.
By donating today, you can directly contribute to keeping the UM Food Pantry’s shelves stocked during this critical time.
The most recent data shows Grove Grocery spends an average of $1,600 every two weeks on food and other essentials to stock the pantry. The UM Food Pantry also purchases meal swipes for students in need during transitional meal plan periods at $8 per meal swipe.
When you donate, you’re putting more food on our shelves that Ole Miss students, faculty and staff have access to for free.
Every gift to Grove Grocery, no matter the size, makes an immediate, direct impact on the Ole Miss community. In this season of giving, please sustain your Ole Miss family by supporting Grove Grocery.
Your $8 gift can provide one meal on a student's Ole Miss dining card. By giving meal swipes to students facing hunger, we aim to reduce the stigma associated with food insecurity. Students simply use their card normally in campus dining facilities, with funds provided by you!
Have you ever signed up for one of those expensive online services? The Grove Grocery's Grab and Go Bag program provides a recipe and all the ingredients needed to create 10 healthy meals at a much lower cost -- just $25! They are free for students in need and available 24/7 outside the food pantry.
Due to concerns related to the spread of coronavirus, the administration has shortened the length of the Fall 2020 semester. This has increased the length of winter break to 55 days. For these 55 days, students who rely on the safety net provided by the University will need additional help, which the food pantry can provide thanks to your gifts.
Grove Grocery aims to reduce the stigma of hunger and poverty on campus by providing more than just canned food and ramen. We provide fresh fruits and vegetables as well as food which aligns with the dietary restrictions and cultural beliefs of our clients. The food pantry should be a resource for students who need help, not a last resort.
After the university ended in-person classes in March to keep the COVID-19 pandemic from spreading on campus, Grove Grocery saw a 300 percent increase in usage. Students and other members of the University community continued to access Grove Grocery at much higher rates than normal throughout the summer and fall 2020 semester.
We're efficient shoppers at the Grove Grocery. For just $1,600, we can stock the pantry shelves with enough food and other goods to serve students in need for two weeks. However, this winter break lasts much longer than that. We'll need your help.