UMass Dartmouth is helping to combat food insecurity

Nearly half of undergraduate students in the United States face food insecurity, and UMass Dartmouth has been working on battling the issue in their community. 

Jeanne’s Cupboard was started by Deacon Frank Lucca over 10 years ago, as a single cupboard across from campus. Now, this it’s a fully functional food pantry that serves both students and the community. 

Students can order online using their student ID rather than their name to help reduce stigma, and collect their order at a timeslot that works for them. 

Each month, they distribute about 5,000 and 6,000 pounds of food, as well as toiletries and essentials. This includes over a quarter of the students at UMass Dartmouth, about 2,000 students a month. 

“The pantry becomes more than just a resource — it becomes a support system,” said one student who works at the pantry, who is from Ghana and has personally struggled with financial challenges. “It truly feels like a blessing to be in a position where I can help provide some level of relief to others.”