University Teams With Kroger to Fight Student Hunger

Starting Dec. 1, shoppers can choose to round up to the nearest dollar or donate $1, $5 or $10 to help the Grove Grocery restock its shelves and freezers.

The round-up fundraiser is part of The Kroger Co.'s Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation, created to end hunger and eliminate food waste.

"This fundraiser is going to be super helpful, especially by giving us the freedom to pick what we know students need and want with that money" said Capri Lobotzke, student director of Grove Grocery.

"Every other week, we go shopping at Kroger and purchase around $4,000 worth of food for the pantry. Those groceries are typically gone within four or five days."

Housed in Kinard Hall, the Grove Grocery offers Ole Miss students and employees a place to discreetly receive frozen foods, snacks, spices and hygiene products for free. During the 2023-24 academic year, the pantry provided 21,300 free meals to students.

The food pantry offers prepacked grocery bags with recipes included, online pickup orders and drop-in hours for shopping. The office also donates meal swipes that students can use at campus dining facilities.

Nearly a quarter of U.S. college students – about 3.8 million – experience food insecurity, according to the most recent U.S. Government Accountability report. More than 2 million of those students reported multiple instances of eating less than they should or skipping meals because they could not afford more food.

About 3-in-10 of students battle some level of food insecurity issues during their time at Ole Miss, said Kate Forster, the group's staff adviser and director of advocacy for UMatter: Student Support and Advocacy.

"What is helpful for folks to understand is that yes, food insecurity is an issue on our campus," she said.

"Maybe they have enough money to buy ramen, peanut butter and a few items, but they don't have enough to really provide the full range of foods that they need for a healthy diet."

The pantry's student committees have prioritized offering a wide range of foods – from spices and coconut milk to refrigerated meats and fresh eggs – to accommodate students and staff from diverse backgrounds.

Keeping the pantry stocked with a variety of items for more than a few days can be a struggle because of demand, Lobotzke said. She and fellow student volunteers are happy that Kroger recognizes the importance of providing nutritious food to everyone on campus.

"We believe it's important that all people have access to fresh food," said Micheal Cristal, president of Kroger Delta Division. "This includes college students.

"Kroger has supported the Grove Grocery for many years, and we are happy to offer our shoppers this opportunity to help."

Grateful for the supportive relationship Kroger has maintained with the food pantry for more than five years, Forster hopes community members join in the fight against student hunger by rounding up at the cash register.

"Any little bit – whether it's 27 cents, 71 cents or $10 – is going to add up," Forster said.

"If you're really thinking about that across every grocery transaction over the course of a month, the amount that that can add up to is really impactful."

Top: Kroger customers in Oxford can round up their totals or donate to support Grove Grocery, the University of Mississippi's student-operated food pantry, during December. Donations from the fundraiser will help restock the pantry with essential and culturally diverse foods. Graphic by Stefanie Goodwiller/University Marketing and Communications