Taking the next step: Understanding food insecurity and how Clemson is addressing it

Later this Fall, Clemson University will launch "The Nook," an employee-focused pantry designed to address food insecurity and support employee well-being.Read more about the opening of The Nook at the bottom of this article.

Eighteen million Americans experienced food insecurity sometime during 2023 .

While a universal problem, food insecurity looks different for different people.

Maybe it is a family of four whose parents skip dinner so there is enough food for the children. Or the college student who must choose between buying food and buying textbooks. The working professional who visits a food pantry or soup kitchen once or twice a month so they can contribute toward the costs of a parent's prescription costs.

The causes of food insecurity vary greatly, as well. For many Americans, unexpected financial impacts of a medical emergency or home or car repairs can mean the difference between stable access to nutritious food or going hungry.

Feeding America defines food insecurity as when people don't have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from. Researchers say it is also essential to examine individuals' access to not just enough food (quantity) but access to nutritious and healthy foods (quality).

While statistics say tens of millions experience food insecurity each year - millions more are not included in those metrics - who don't meet the official definition of food insecurity - but still rely on other resources, like food banks and community organizations, for support.

But food insecurity isn't just a national problem.

According to Feeding America, one in eight South Carolinians is food insecure. In Pickens County, one in seven individuals experience this painful life challenge. In 2023, Clemson Community Care, a local organization less than two miles from main campus that operates a food pantry and provides rent and utility assistance, served more than 10,000 individuals just last year

Clemson University Takes Action

Research

Clemson University faculty and researchers have extensively researched food insecurity, its causes and its impacts. In 2019, the United Way of Pickens County (UWPC) commissioned a study by a group of Clemson faculty and Ph.D. students to investigate the extent of hunger and food insecurity in the county. The resulting 95-page report, "Hunger and Food Insecurity in Pickens County, South Carolina: 2019," provides a comprehensive view of the impact of an issue that has only grown since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Education

In addition to research, Clemson University community members are taking actionable steps to help our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

In 2022, the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences partnered with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to create a statewide resource map highlighting food pantries in every county. The Food Access Map makes finding reliable information on food resources more accessible for people in need across the state, with information on more than 900 food pantries and resources.

As the state's land-grant institution, Clemson also plays a significant role in statewide outreach through Cooperative Extension, including the facilitation of nutrition education programs like the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program (EFNEP) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed). A publication by various EFNEP team members at Clemson Extension offices sites the state's nutrition education programs, like EFNEP and SNAP-Ed, as "compelling tools" to address and combat food insecurity.

Clemson's EFNEP program focuses on providing practical, hands-on nutrition in four core areas: diet quality and physical activity, food resource management, food safety and food insecurity. Through hands-on programs, adults across the state can learn how to plan affordable and healthy meals for their families and save money on food while learning to increase physical activity and healthy food intake.

Initial Action

In 2015, Clemson took a significant step to address food insecurity on campus. Driven by students who saw a need to provide resources and food assistance for their classmates, students founded the Paw Pantry to reduce food insecurity and promote well-being on campus. Approaching its tenth anniversary - the Paw Pantry offers a range of items, including non-perishable foods, hygiene products and school supplies.

The Next Step

As yet another step in the University's commitment to address food insecurity, a new initiative is in its final stages at Clemson, intended to expand the University's dedication to well-being - for all members of the Clemson community - including faculty and staff.

Later this Fall, Clemson University will open The Nook - an employee pantry - focused on serving the needs of faculty, staff and affiliate employees who may be experiencing food insecurity or financial instability. The Nook will provide an on-campus option for employees to receive assistance, whether they need groceries or household products.

Slated to open in November 2024, more information regarding The Nook, including location, operating hours and available resources, will be released in the coming weeks.

Like the Paw Pantry, The Nook operates solely on community donations. Those interested in making a monetary donation may do so through this Clemson Giving portal. Phone gifts may be called into the Annual Giving Office at 864-656-5896 and designated to The Nook - B4890. Interested faculty and staff may also make monetary donations through payroll deduction (select "Other: The Nook, B4890").

More details regarding how to make physical donations will be announced in October.

In the meantime, individuals interested in learning more about The Nook or supporting the initiative through volunteer opportunities may contact [email protected].

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