More than 200 gather for food pantry anniversary and grand opening
It was a beautiful scene on the first floor of the library when both the cake and the ribbon were cut.
The cake? To celebrate the Student Food Pantry’s impact over the past decade.
The ribbon? To officially open the brand-new space where UNT Health Fort Worth will continue to meet its students’ most basic needs.
To cheer it all on was a packed house featuring more than 200 students, faculty, staff and community members at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Student Food Pantry and grand opening of the new location on Tuesday, Aug. 25.
“It was wonderful to see such a great community response and the outpouring of support and appreciation for the Student Food Pantry,” said vice provost for student affairs, La’Cresha Moore, Ed.D. “Hearing students share what this means to them personally was truly special.”
In addition to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and refreshments, there was a brief program and a chance for attendees to explore the new food pantry space.
Second-year PA student Isaac Stecher was encouraged to see the new, more accessible, more widely stocked pantry.
“I simply felt grateful walking through the doors of the new facility,” he said. “It reinforced for me the idea that UNT Health as an institution is invested not just in my grades and performance, but in my health and well-being.”
“The newly expanded and inviting space makes it so easy for students to access everything they need without any hesitation,” said Kaylee Brunetti, a third-year PhD student at the College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences.
The formal program featured stories and comments from UNT Health president Dr. Kirk Calhoun, senior vice president and provost Christopher Ray, Ph.D., vice provost for student affairs La’Cresha Moore, Ed.D., and Student Assistance Resource Center director Teresa McKinney, Ed.D.
According to Calhoun, the food pantry reflects our institutional values.
“Student success is not only shaped by what happens in the classroom, the lab or the clinic,” he said. “It is also shaped by whether a student has the stability, support and basic resources they need to focus, learn and thrive.”
Students have talked about the impact the food pantry has had on their ability to succeed in school and manage a budget defined by student loans and tuition.
“If you can have regular meals, then you are much more available mentally to focus on studying, to be present in class, to not be worrying about where you're going to eat next,” Stecher said.
“For the Student Food Pantry to be around 10 years is incredible,” Brunetti said. “For 10 years, it's been helping students on campus, especially those who have been suffering from food insecurity.”
The food pantry was first launched on Aug. 18, 2016, and was operated out of half of a supply closet on the second floor of the Student Service Center. It has grown to meet the increasing demand over the years through three different locations, growing a little in scope and size each time, leading to its new, higher-capacity location on the first floor of the library.
Calhoun talked about the food pantry’s growth, pointing out that in its first year, 2,724 pounds of food were distributed compared to approximately 10,000 pounds in 2025-26.
“Those numbers reflect both need and impact,” he said. “They show us that this resource matters, and that students are using it.”
From its humble beginnings, the Student Food Pantry has always been committed to meeting one of students’ most basic needs: food. The new centralized food pantry location offers students greater access and expanded refrigerator and freezer capacity, providing a wider variety of fresh, frozen and shelf-stable items.
“At the end of the day, you need to be fed, and you need to be taken care of, and there are people and places that can help you do that,” Brunetti said. “I truly hope this new area reminds our students that asking for help is always welcomed, supported, and free of any stigma."
You can donate to the UNT Health Student Food Pantry by visiting UNTHealth.edu/give, click on “Give Now,” and select “Student Food Pantry” from the “I want to support” dropdown list. See the Student Food Pantry web page for more information about donating items.
“This new pantry location sends a clear message to every student: you belong here, you are supported here, and your well-being matters here,” said Dr. Calhoun.
Check out UNTHealth.edu/newsroom for our story on the Student Food Pantry’s 10-year history of supporting students!
The Student Food Pantry, operated by the Student Assistance Resource Center within the Division of Student Affairs,connects UNT Health students with nutritious food and essential resources. Supporting students’ basic needs empowers them to focus on their well-being, academic goals and educational success.