by Nola Peshkin

Two key programs on campus are working hand in hand to nourish both the body and the community: the Feed U Pantry and the Edible Campus Gardens. Together, they offer students not only access to fresh, locally grown produce but also valuable opportunities to learn about food sustainability, cooking, and gardening. By bridging the gap between food security and education, these programs provide students with the tools and resources they need to thrive, both in the kitchen and in the garden. Through free food and hygiene items, interactive gardening experiences, and educational events, the Feed U Pantry and Edible Campus Gardens work together to bolster food security for the campus community.

Take What You Need

The Feed U Pantry, located in the basement of the student union, is dedicated to reducing hunger among students, faculty, and staff by providing free, accessible, and nutritious food. The pantry offers a no-questions-asked service that empowers individuals to take essential food and hygiene items, enabling them to focus on their health, happiness, and success at the University of Utah—free from the burden of hunger. By offering this vital resource, the pantry ensures that members of the campus community don’t have to choose between meeting their nutritional needs and covering other life essentials or emergencies.

Gary Karakcheyeva (College of Science, ’26), Director of the Feed U Pantry, is passionate about working to eradicate food instability across campus. She started volunteering at the pantry as a freshman, with a desire to serve and support others, and fell in love with the work. Today, Gaby leads a dedicated team of associate directors and volunteers to ensure the pantry continues to meet the needs of the university community.

As a partner agency of the Utah Food Bank, the Feed U Pantry receives regular shipments of food donations to help keep its shelves stocked. In addition, the team relies on physical and monetary donations from on-campus offices, groups, and individuals. Pantry staff and volunteers use monetary donations to purchase bulk items to keep the shelves and fridges full of a variety of delicious items. “Something that I really prioritize,” Gaby says, “is making sure that people can access culturally relevant and appropriate foods, as well as fresh and nutritious food. Because fresh things go bad quicker, that can be a challenge, but access to healthy options is so important. We like to purchase items like eggs, potatoes, and mixed greens for our fridges.”

Campus-Grown Produce

While shopping trips sustain the pantry, their primary source of fresh food options is the university’s Edible Campus Gardens, which have been running since 1996. Originally focused solely on education, the garden program has since expanded to include food security initiatives as well. There are three garden locations across campus that, in total, cover about a third of an acre. Many classes on campus visit the gardens as part of their curriculum, either stopping in for a day or regularly throughout the semester, to work on gardening projects, applying sustainability learning in the real world, and catalyzing sustainability action.

When asked about the gardens’ relationship to campus, Gabrielle James, the Garden Programs Coordinator, says, “All of the food we grow gets distributed back to the campus for free. Some of it goes to the campus farmers market, which is hosted by our Sustainability Office. If there aren’t farmers selling that day, we’ll give away our produce. Garden volunteers and classroom visitors can also take things during their shift. But the most produce by far goes to the pantry, which does a great job of distributing food to people who need it.”

The produce that comes from the Edible Campus Gardens makes up a significant portion of the fresh food that the Feed U Pantry distributes. They work together to provide the campus community with food that is free, fresh, and locally grown. Because garden crops vary with the season and Utah’s climate, both the amount and type of produce Gabrielle and their team grows changes throughout the year. “We try to grow a variety of crops in every season, and we send out surveys trying to find out what folks coming to the pantry are interested in,” says Gabrielle, “And Gaby and I are in pretty constant communication about what’s flying off the shelves and what’s not.” While fruiting plants, like peppers and tomatoes, are popular, sometimes the garden team is limited by Utah’s cold winters, or other climate factors. Gabrielle notes that, “We try to keep our soil covered and mimic nature as closely as possible, but when winter stays longer than we expect, were so glad that Gaby and her team can use monetary donations to shop for items we aren’t able to produce.”

“The reality is,” says Gaby, “college is really expensive and, at times, really challenging. A lot of the work I do is to make sure that my peers across campus, as well as faculty and staff, have easy access to a basic need. About 30% of college students report being food insecure, and I’m sure there are many beyond this number that don’t even report it. You should be able to come to a resource that allows you access to fresh garden produce, so I just really want people to feel free of guilt when they come to the pantry. Gabrielle emphasizes that the pantry staff do an excellent job of making patrons feel welcome and cared for, which is a huge part of food security work. Getting people who need these life staples into the pantry is the first step, but making sure they feel cared for is where the pantry volunteers come in.

Get Involved

Feed U Pantry volunteers perform a variety of tasks, including staffing the front desk, assisting patrons with checkout, stocking shelves, and tabling in the student union building. “In my opinion, this is one of the easiest ways to volunteer on campus because the shifts are designed to fit into your schedule well,” says Gaby.

“We only ask volunteers to commit to one hour per week for a full semester. We have a long list of registered volunteers, so it’s a great way to make friends, too.” In addition to volunteering, Gaby encourages students to participate in Feed U Pantry events, such as where attendees learned about the various types of beans and how to incorporate them into meals. Participants also walked away with free bean-based foods and fresh green beans. “We also host Zoom Cooking Hours,” says Gaby, “where students can pick up ingredient packs from the pantry which are often full of garden produce, take them home, and join us for a free online cooking class! We want students to learn not only how to cook, but also how to use ingredients that might be unfamiliar to them.”

While cooking classes offer a fun and educational way to explore food, the garden itself provides even more opportunities for students to get involved and learn through experience. Volunteering at the Edible Campus Gardens is open to all—no previous experience required. Gabrielle and their team have weekly volunteer shifts where they provide all the tools and training needed.

For some students, getting involved with the gardens is as easy as showing up to class. “We bring lots of classes from a variety of colleges to the garden,” explains Gabrielle. “Some will spend just one day with us, and other classes come regularly, for about half their classroom time each week. We do projects like seed saving, which is a sustainable gardening practice because collecting seeds from our current crops means they can grow in the same climate year after year and are better adapted.”

Fostering a Stronger Campus Community

“Ultimately, I want students to know that the work we’re doing is for them. It’s here for them, it really is,” Gabrielle reassures. “I know a lot of people feel a little bit hesitant to use the pantry or feel like other folks need it more. But it’s there for everyone, and we want them to come and get the food that we’re producing. We’re working really hard, sometimes through brutal weather, and we’re putting our sweat and hard work into this food, so we really want it to be taken and enjoyed.”

The partnership between the Feed U Pantry and the Edible Campus Gardens not only addresses immediate student needs but also aligns with the broader goals of creating a more sustainable, supportive campus. By providing studentswith fresh produce, free food and hygiene supplies, cooking education, and interactive gardening opportunities, these programs are helping to build a stronger, more connected campus community. Together, they offer not just food, but the knowledge and skills to foster long-term health, sustainability, and self-sufficiency.

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