NBC Nightly News Visits Full Circle Campus Food Pantry

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Charlie Hadlock, reporter for NBC, films students for an NBC Nightly News story.

One thing is for sure about the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry – nothing is going to stop them from serving their university community – not even NBC Nightly News.

Charlie Hadlock, a reporter and producer for NBC, made the trek from Dallas to Fayetteville Thursday morning to shine the spotlight on a well-deserved University of Arkansas program – Full Circle Campus Food Pantry. Hadlock’s story is expected to air this weekend.

Full Circle was an idea by students for students, faculty and staff). The pantry has been open for two years and continues to grow as it serves approximately 200 students and staff per week who are dealing with food insecurity.

As it grew closer to time for the pantry to open its doors, Angela Oxford, director of the center for community engagement, asked Hadlock if they’d be done in time. When 10 a.m. rolled around and people began to arrive to gather their needed goods from the pantry, the students sprang into - filling orders, printing labels and portioning cereal. They weren’t distracted by the lights or the camera – it was evident they were simply there to serve.

They did, however, welcome the reporter to follow them around as they worked, ensuring that the customers of the pantry were not filmed. Students Brandon Mathews and Rachael Pellegrino took a moment to speak with him, too. Their conversation touched heavily on the stigma associated with food pantries. Both students agreed that Full Circle is working to eliminate the stigma by operating in a way that respects the confidentiality of those it serves. A university staff member or student only needs one thing to access the pantry’s services – a university ID. No explanation of need is required.

Oxford, too, touched on this idea noting that people are welcome to access the pantry as often as they need. She also discussed the dedication of the volunteers and staff of Full Circle, the continuing need for the service they provide, and the growth of not only Full Circle, but of college food pantries across the country. She also took a moment to mention what she called the generosity of the university community for donating over 30,000 pounds of food over the last 7 months. 

“It’s exciting for our students to have the opportunity to tell about their experience with the pantry and it’s always great to have exposure for our work. It also allows us the opportunity to talk with others about the issue of hunger in our community and how it never goes away – it’s ever present and as long as there are hungry people on campus, we’ll be here,” Oxford said of the opportunity to be featured by NBC Nightly News.

Jane Gearhart, wife of Chancellor Gearhart, also swung by during the filming to show her support for the pantry. “It’s thrilling to see the pantry receive this type of recognition. It’s, of course, not why we do it, but it’s great for them to be recognized for what they do,” Gearhart said. “It’s so important to raise awareness surrounding the issue of hunger, on our campus and other campuses, as well. Full Circle has served as a model for other campuses across the country.”

Serving as such a model was one of Oxford’s goals from the beginning. Full Circle has not only given voice to a growing need on campuses across the country, but a way to make a difference. Recognizing it as a national model, the White House named the Full Circle Campus Food Pantry as one of its Campus Champions of Change a year ago.

The piece is set to air this weekend on NBC Nightly News. It will also be featured on nbcnews.com.