Newly designed Nourish Market aims to combat food shortages – News

The market provides free food and supplies to those in need on campus

Food is essential to life. Not only does it nourish the body, food is also central to social gatherings and cultural identity. It is nourishment for the mind, body, and soul. These ideas informed the renaming and redesign of the former Campus Pantry, which will open at Campbell University in 2023 with the intent of providing free groceries and food pantries to members of the Campbell community who may be experiencing food insecurity.

The newly designed and renovated space in the Wallace Student Center (now Nourish Market) was celebrated on August 23 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a cooking demonstration by Campbell’s First Lady Kathy Creed, who prepared her famous taco soup for the ceremony.

The new name was chosen to remove the negativity that surrounded the previous name, according to Morgan Pajak, assistant campus chaplain and director of community engagement. The former pantry wasn’t used as much as it could have been during its first year, Pajak said, and part of the reason may have been the perceived stigma of what some students consider “handouts.”

“There are resources on this campus that students can access and use at any time. Our writing center. Disability services. Financial aid, to name a few,” Pajak said. “But when it comes to food, a lot of people are hesitant to ask for help. Some people feel weird about taking something when there’s someone out there who might need it more. But the reality is that we have students and staff here who have jobs or are studying full-time and have stable housing, but who might need a little extra help now and then. That’s what we’re here for.”

In addition to providing free food donated by community members and local businesses and organizations, Nourish Market also offers proper nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and will host community-building events throughout the year.

Shoppers only need a Campbell ID to gain access to the market, which is open Monday through Thursday from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Anyone wishing to donate to the market can do so by clicking on the Amazon Wishlist.

Nourish Market is operated by the Office of Spiritual Life, and Pajak said the business is an extension of Campbell’s Christian mission to help those in need.

“This place gives us the opportunity to do that and also feed our community,” she said. “Food is such a basic need, and if you’re not paying attention to how you’re physically nourishing yourself, it affects the rest of your well-being. When you’re full, you know you’re full. And once you’re able to pay attention to that within yourself, it creates a desire to make an impact on the people around you.”