Visit the Nighthawks Together site for the latest information on COVID-19 operations. Learn about vaccinations on campus. You can also find a link to the Nighthawks Together website under our quick links menu.

Article author: JK Devine

As the manager of the food storage room at the University of North Georgia (UNG) Dahlonega campus, Sherry Parker understands the food insecurity issues faced by students, faculty and staff.

Parker, an administrative assistant in the Department of Psychological Science, said: “Some people can’t afford to eat in the restaurant or cafe at the Hogg Student Center, and it’s uncomfortable to go there.” “I want to create a space where they can cook and eat. After dinner, go out to play."

Now that place has become a reality. The Basic Needs Center is located on the back porch of the historic Vickery House, which is the headquarters of the Appalachian Research Center of the College of Education.

The center is equipped with refrigerators, microwaves and coffee stations, as well as paper plates and cutlery. Several single-serving products, such as microwave soup, some pasta, breakfast bars, and granola snacks, are stored in the cupboard. All of these can be used free of charge by students, faculty and staff.

Parker said that students, faculty and staff are also welcome to visit the food storage room in Vickery House. The food storage room operates like a supermarket, displaying items with stable shelves. Frozen food and other cooler items are stored in refrigerators and freezers.

"People can buy what they want and need," she said, explaining that customers are required to fill out confidential forms for tracking purposes.

The food pantry at the UNG Gainesville campus uses the same model. Customers provide their UNG ID, name, email address and phone number, and then select their food. The difference is that customers can pick up meals in the student center or choose roadside delivery.

Domini'que Allen, assistant manager of the Gainesville Food Pantry, explained that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pantry was transformed into a roadside delivery. Based on its success, the pantry retained this option.

The client fills out a roadside admission form in Spanish and English. They choose a pick-up time range and call the pantry when they arrive on campus.

The registration form will be used for the Thanksgiving gift box gift in the food pantry of the Gainesville campus. Allen said that the pantry will provide 10 to 20 boxes full of food needed to make Thanksgiving dinner.

"When I think of Thanksgiving, it is a celebration of what happened during the year," said a graduate student in the UNG Human Service and Delivery Management project. "In the past year, many of our families have survived. I believe everyone should celebrate."

The Thanksgiving gift box will include mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, four cans of vegetables, two cans of fruit and a dessert. As the main course, a chicken will end the feast.

Both food storage rooms supply food through donations and contact with local food banks. Both also follow the same principles.

"Our model is'take what you need, leave what you don't need, and do what you can,'" Parker said.

For more information about each pantry, including time required and donations, please visit the UNG pantry website.

© The University of Georgia System and the University of North Georgia.

UNG follows the section 508 standard and the web accessibility of WCAG 2.1. If you need content in other formats, please email the ADA coordinator.

The use of military-themed images does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense.