One in eight South Carolinians faces food insecurity. Some of them are our neighbors and our colleagues.
September is Hunger Action Month: a nationwide movement to raise awareness of hunger and food insecurity and ensure local food banks have the resources they need.
Feeding America defines food insecurity as the experience of not having enough to eat and not knowing where your next meal will come from. For many, food insecurity may not be a chronic fact of life. More so, it is something sporadic or looming with one large medical bill or a broken-down car.
That’s why Clemson University is committed to supporting faculty, staff and students through on-campus resources with essential food and household goods. The University operates two pantries on campus. The Paw Pantry serves undergraduate and graduate students, and The Nook serves University employees.
A Supportive Place for Those in Need
Both on-campus pantries are supportive, compassionate spaces where Clemson students and employees can access resources during times of hardship. Whether they need pantry staples or household essentials, The Nook and the Paw Pantry are open throughout the week to help those in need.
Since opening its doors in November 2024, more than 130 different employees have visited the Nook more than 900 times.
The Paw Pantry served more than 200 students in the past fall and spring semesters, with more than 2,200 visits in the year.
Run solely by campus volunteers, the pantries are a physical representation of Clemson’s dedication to all-around well-being for every member of our community.
Abby Morningstar is a registered dietician with Rural Health and often volunteers her time to run The Nook.
Abby Morningstar checks inventory on the shelves in the Nook (July 2025).
“I spend my days talking to patients and community members about food and nutrition but rarely talk about how they can obtain these foods. Volunteering at The Nook has reminded me that access, dignity and quiet support are just as essential as nutrition education,” said Morningstar. “It’s a chance to serve the very people who keep our campus thriving, and to make sure they feel adequately nourished.”
How Faculty, Staff Can Support
Consider a Donation
Both The Nook and The Paw Pantry are run entirely on donations: both physical and monetary. When donations lull at certain times of the year, shelves can become bare.
Faculty and staff interested in supporting the pantries can either donate non-perishable items and household essentials to the pantries or making a monetary donation.
While all items are greatly appreciated, colleagues request the following items most frequently:
Rice
Oil
Cereal
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Soups
Canned Beans, Vegetables and Fruit
Condiments
Trash Bags
Cleaning Supplies
Monetary donations can be made to each pantry using either of the donation portals listed below or through payroll deduction.
Paw Pantry Giving Portal (Search “Paw Pantry”)
Payroll Deduction Form – Enter The Nook, B4890 or Paw Pantry, XXXX in the “Other” option.
Consider a Drive
Units or teams looking to come together to support the on-campus pantries may also host a donation drive for donations. Hosting a drive is as simple as setting up a location to collect items and then arranging a pick-up or drop-off with the pantries.
For more information about hosting a drive, visit The Nook or the Paw Pantry websites.
