With food insecurity increasing on college campuses across the country, students from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and LMU-Richard A. Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine have stepped up to expand the hours of operations at LMU’s Lincoln’s Cupboard.
“Through the generosity of these professional students volunteering their time we’re able to serve more of our academic community,” said Bailey Patton, executive assistant to University Advancement. “We’ve been able to keep the pantry open on a consistent schedule thanks to LMU-DCOM and LMU-CVM students completing their volunteer hours at Lincoln’s Cupboard.” 
Established in 2016 by the LMU Women of Service (LMU WOS) organization, Lincoln’s Cupboard is a campus food pantry serving students at the University. Administered by LMU WOS with two dedicated undergraduate students, the main pantry is on the LMU Main Campus. Student volunteers from LMU-DCOM and LMU-CVM have enabled the pantry to operate on a regular schedule. Since July 2023, Lincoln’s Cupboard has had 1,746 visits for food and essential items.
A recent report in the 2023 Food Insecurity in Tennessee Higher Education from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission shows the reduction in purchasing power of financial aid has shifted a larger portion of college costs, including living expenses, onto students. The report also listed housing, textbooks and transportation as financial strains a student may encounter.
Lincoln’s Cupboard aims to bridge the gap by providing LMU students and employees with the following items: hygiene items, household supplies, blankets and pillows, meat (canned, pouched, frozen and/or fresh), vegetables (canned, frozen and fresh when available), fruits (canned, frozen and fresh when available), shelf-stable milk, among other items.
In addition to the main Lincoln’s Cupboard, satellite pantries are available at various LMU learning sites including the DeBusk Veterinary Teaching Center in Ewing, Virginia and the LMU-Tower, LMU-Duncan School of Law, DCOM at LMU-Knox and LMU-Cedar Bluff, all in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Judy Hansard serves as Lincoln’s Cupboard Committee Chair, along with fellow WOS members Cynthia Whitt, Susan Graves, Mary Bolton, Bridgette Welch, Bailey Patton and Melinda Turner.
“Meeting the food and basic essential needs of the LMU family is the LMU Women of Service’s way of contributing to students' ability to concentrate on their academics instead of worrying where their next meal comes from, therefore contributing to student retention and overall success,” said Melinda Turner, WOS member and LMU-DCOM director of faculty development.
For more information about the pantry, visit here: https://www.lmunet.edu/community/women-of-service/pathways-of-service\
To donate to Lincoln’s Cupboard, visit here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/28518/donations/new?designation=woslincolnscupboard
ABOUT LMU WOS: Established in 2011, the LMU Women of Service is open to all women who want to help students at LMU. By living as an example of service, WOS members teach LMU students about the incredibly important mission of service to humanity. The group holds annual fundraising activities including a fashion show and Christmas festival to fund student scholarships and provide family aid and cultural enrichment opportunities to LMU students.
Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in liberal arts and professional students. The main campus is located in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423-869-6280 or email at admissions@LMUNet.edu.
