Food Bank Partnership Beefs Up Comet Cupboard’s Supplies

The Comet Cupboard at The University of Texas at Dallas has experienced a significant increase in usage this semester, and a new partnership with the North Texas Food Bank will help expand its offerings.

Hillary Beauchamp Campbell, director of undergraduate programs in the Office of Undergraduate Education, said on average, the Comet Cupboard is serving twice the number of students per week compared to last fall semester.

In an effort to address more directly the hunger needs of college students, the North Texas Food Bank recently welcomed the Comet Cupboard to its network of more than 200 partner agencies. The partnership will allow the Comet Cupboard to provide students with fresh and frozen foods, in addition to shelf-stable groceries and personal care items.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the scope of the Comet Cupboard’s mission,” Campbell said. “We plan to continue distributing fresh and frozen foods beyond the pandemic, and based on the significant response we’ve seen in recent months, we are confident that a steady inventory of these items will be well utilized by our users.

“This new partnership between the Comet Cupboard and the North Texas Food Bank is going to make a tremendous impact on our ability to grow the service and continue providing fresh food to our students.”

Launched in 2012 in response to the growing awareness of students experiencing food insecurity and the accompanying negative academic outcomes, the Comet Cupboard was the first university food bank established in Texas.

The Comet Cupboard initially began partnering with the North Texas Food Bank last summer for two mobile distributions on campus.

According to a recent survey conducted during the pandemic by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, 38% of students at four-year institutions reported they were affected by food insecurity.

“We know the Comet Cupboard needs healthy food options in order to ensure fulfillment of the UT Dallas Office of Undergraduate Education’s mission of enabling UT Dallas students to reach their full academic potential, and the North Texas Food Bank partnership is one of the best resources available for us to provide those healthy options,” Campbell said.

Pivoting During the Pandemic

During the past year, the Comet Cupboard has expanded to address increased needs while meeting health and safety guidelines.

Since late April 2020, and with the help of faculty and staff volunteers and the UT Dallas Police Department, the Comet Cupboard has distributed food and personal care items weekly to students while following strict distancing protocols. Emergency supply boxes were distributed in March 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic.

“Because of potential exposure risks involved with public transportation and crowds, some of these students have come to rely exclusively on their weekly visit to the Comet Cupboard, and this urgency compelled our team to find a way to continue distributions,” Campbell said.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally altered the scope of the Comet Cupboard’s mission. We plan to continue distributing fresh and frozen foods beyond the pandemic, and based on the significant response we’ve seen in recent months, we are confident that a steady inventory of these items will be well utilized by our users.”

Hillary Beauchamp Campbell, director of undergraduate programs in the Office of Undergraduate Education at UT Dallas

Before the pandemic, the campus food pantry operated five days a week, with distributions run by a group of approximately 300 trained undergraduate student volunteers. Under normal circumstances, students can visit the Comet Cupboard daily and select their own items.

Currently, students complete a shopping list based on inventory, and Comet Cupboard staff, along with faculty and staff volunteers, fulfill the orders. The Police Department triages the students at the building’s entrance and provides transportation for students back to their on-campus housing.

Service Opportunity

The Comet Cupboard also contributes to the service-learning component of the undergraduate academic experience and provides an opportunity for Comets to learn the importance of helping others.

Bel Khuu, an economics senior, has been a student worker for the Comet Cupboard since fall 2019. She helped revamp the training for student volunteers and launched a student leadership team.

During summer 2020 she also worked to create virtual service opportunities for students, such as compiling a cookbook or creating cooking demos.

Khuu said she has seen many Comet Cupboard users volunteer as a way to give back.

“I am passionate about food insecurity,” Khuu said. “This position allowed me to connect with many like-minded students. It is a humbling and empowering experience. To be part of the Comet Cupboard is to be part of a cry for change. No Comet should go hungry.”