by Sloanne Petersen

The North Carolina Collegiate Hunger Challenge is back and this year, Greensboro College is eager to build on last year’s success. With a renewed focus on combating food insecurity among students, GC is rallying the campus community once again to take part in this impactful initiative. Greensboro College made significant strides in raising awareness and support for student hunger and ended up winning the $10,000 grand prize in last year’s competition, and this year promises to be even more engaging. The NC Collegiate Hunger Challenge invites students, faculty and staff to participate in a series of events and activities designed to highlight the issue of food insecurity on campus and in the surrounding community.

The Pride Pantry has a great team for this year’s challenge. Our mentor, Dr. Robert Brewer, is excited to get back into the game. Brewer founded the Pride Pantry in 2023 and has been trying to find new ways to help the pantry grow. Last year, he discovered a great opportunity for not only our pantry, but the entirety of the student body. When asked why he decided to enroll Greensboro College in the NC Collegiate Hunger Challenge again, Brewer said, “We started the GC Pride Pantry a year before and this seemed like a great way to promote our food insecurity efforts as well as have fun competing to win the grand prize of $10,000.”

Xypher Pino, one of the original members of the Pride Pantry organization, is making a return as a Hunger Challenge ambassador. Pino says that he was pleased with his success last year in that he “really liked organizing all of the events and making all of the social media posts. I gained a lot of leadership experience and various skills when I did the NC Hunger Challenge and when the opportunity was brought to me again, I was really excited because I get to tailor those skills even further.” Pino sets a great example on how important it is for students to get involved around campus, and how giving back to the community can help you grow as an individual.

I personally was inspired by this team of hard-working individuals and all they had accomplished in just a year, so this year I decided that I too want to help raise awareness about student hunger. As a first-year ambassador, I have a lot to learn but I am lucky to have such a supportive group to help me grow as a leader on campus and as a public servant. This challenge has brought us nothing but success and growth as it encourages us to host lots of interactive events and get as much information out to students as possible, so I am looking forward to contributing this year.

This year’s Hunger Challenge is packed with enticing events designed to engage and inspire the Greensboro College community. The first event that was hosted by the Pride Pantry took place on September 24 and showcased what we have in store for this year’s challenge. Shaniah Taylor, freshman majoring in games and interactive media student, coded a video game for this launch event. The game featured trivia about the NC Collegiate Hunger Challenge and in order to win the game, you had to answer enough of the questions right to defeat the green gelatinous boss. Taylor’s design was not only entertaining, but also served as a great educational resource for students to learn more about the challenge.

An upcoming event to look out for is the “Friendsgiving” event, where students are invited to come together for a festive meal that celebrates community and gratitude. Participants will have the opportunity to share food, stories and laughter, all while raising awareness about food insecurity. This gathering aims to foster connections and encourage us to talk about the challenges some students face in relation to food insecurity.

Additionally, the “Art Against Hunger Day” is making a triumphant return this year. Voted the most creative event from last year’s challenge, it is the perfect way for us to not only raise money for our campus pantry, but also allows our college artists to sell and showcase their art. This year, participants can look forward to new features, including interactive art installations and opportunities for attendees to create their own art pieces. The goal is to start conversations around hunger through the power of creativity, encouraging participants to reflect on the impact of food scarcity in their community.

With these engaging events, this year’s Hunger Challenge hopes to foster a spirit of collaboration and support among students and faculty alike. By coming together, the Greensboro College community aims to not only raise awareness about food insecurity but also provide tangible support to those in need. When asked what his long-term goals for the program are, Brewer stated that, “my biggest hope is to live in a world where the pride pantry is not necessary, where all people have access to all the food they need. But because we live in a broken world, I hope that this pride pantry will be a resource for those who hunger and those who need some extra support in their college career.”  

This challenge serves as a reminder that student hunger is a pressing issue that can affect anyone, and it calls for collective action to ensure that all students have the resources they need to succeed academically and personally. With enthusiasm and a commitment to making a difference, Greensboro College is ready to take on the Hunger Challenge once again and create a lasting impact on the lives of its students. Let us unite to fight hunger and promote a healthier, more supportive campus environment!