A new food pantry is set to help those in need at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, thanks to the work of the campus community and university organizations.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, a large crowd of media, students, faculty, staff, and community leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, kicking off the pantry’s inaugural week.

The Trojan Food Pantry, available to all UALR students, faculty, and staff in need of assistance, will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays during the school year on the south side of the Donaghey Student Center, Room 110B.

“It’s great to see a crowd like this, and I’m just so proud of what’s happening here today,” Chancellor Joel Anderson said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

In addition to the ceremony, attendees had an opportunity to tour the pantry and see the stocked shelves.

“Getting this food pantry up and running has been a real labor of love,” said Dr. Lillian Wichinsky, interim executive director of the UALR Community Connection Center. “I am so proud of our volunteers and the people at UALR. It’s a caring community.”

During the ceremony, the efforts of Betsy Hart of the Community Connection Center, Wichinsky, Brad Patterson of Student Affairs, the Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, the Staff Senate,  the Alumni Association, and the Student Government Association were lauded.

“I feel like it’s been a great success and a great turnout,” said Felisha Thomas, a food pantry volunteer and social work graduate student.

Food pantry participants must fill out a first-time form online or in person at the pantry. A three-day supply of food is provided to participants once a week based on the items chosen on their food request form.

Organizers expect hundreds of UALR students, staff, and faculty to access the pantry, which is run on a day-to-day basis by UALR student volunteers.

“We’re not just nourishing students’ minds, but also their bodies,” Wichinsky said.

According to the College and University Food Bank Alliance, food insecurity has increasingly become an issue on college and university campuses and can pose a significant barrier to student success, affecting all demographic statuses, enrollment levels, and geographic locations.

Donated food items may be dropped off at the Community Connection Center. For more information on the Trojan Food Pantry, visit https://ualr.edu/foodpantry. A list of the most needed items is on the website.

Photos: Upper right: The official ribbon cutting for the new Trojan Food Pantry. To the left, Chancellor Joel E. Anderson speaks during the Tuesday, Feb. 2 ceremony, and in the lower right photo, the food pantry opening ceremony draws a crowd. Pictures by Lonnie Timmons III/UALR Communications staff.