UNC Charlotte’s Jamil Niner Student Pantry recently received 1,200 pounds of food and supplies as part of TIAA’s annual employee food drive. The student pantry assists UNC Charlotte undergraduate and graduate students in need, offering a variety of nutritious meals and food staples to help ensure their continued success.
“Our partnership with TIAA has been invaluable to the success of the Jamil Niner Student Pantry,” said Sean Langley, assistant director for Leadership and Community Engagement. “Through financial resources and employee engagement, TIAA continues to assist our students who are food insecure. Quarterly, TIAA volunteers stock our shelves, enhance our community garden and develop meaningful relationships with our students. Quite simply, the Jamil Niner Student Pantry would not be what it is today without this sustained community partnership.”
Catina Strong, relationship manager at TIAA, stated, “It’s an honor to work with UNC Charlotte in helping provide hard-working students with the healthy food they need and deserve. Students face many stressors as they work toward their degrees–not knowing where their next meal is coming from should not be one of them.”
According to TIAA, the Jamil Niner Student Pantry is among more than 50 on-campus food banks that received donations from the Charlotte-based financial services provider.
An increasing number of college students struggle at some point with food insecurity, which can create a greater risk of a student dropping out of school. Community-based initiatives, such as TIAA’s annual employee food drive, help stock the shelves at student pantries, ensuring students have daily access to nutritious food.
Photo: Volunteers from TIAA and UNC Charlotte students who help with the Niner pantry are pictured with a portion of the food drive proceeds.