By: Anna Carpenter
Opinion Editor
Tucked away on the first floor of Northeast Residence Hall is a store where Wingate students can come by and pick up whatever items they need, free of charge. The founder, Dr. Catherine Wright, says the store, Paw Provisions, is “a free store that invests in students so they can become the changemakers the world needs.”
In January 2020, Dr. Wright spearheaded the creation of The Collaborative for the Common Good (CCG), an organization that works to serve students as well as those living near Wingate in ways that benefit the community, the economy and the planet.
A 2021 survey conducted by the CCG indicated that approximately one in three
students suffer from food insecurity. Wright, along with Dr. Michael Reynolds, the assistant vice president and dean of Campus Life at Wingate, sought to ease this need. As a result, Paw Provisions was born.
Paw Provisions began as an effort to support students who could not go home during winter breaks for various reasons. The CCG found that many of those students did not have reliable access to transportation and because of the relatively small number of students that stay on campus each winter break, the dining hall had very limited hours, resulting in food insecurity.
So in December 2020 the Winter Break Feeding Program was created to meet this need. Due to the success of this program, Paw Provisions expanded to help all
students thrive throughout each semester. Since last December, the free store has been open every Tuesday evening. As it grew in popularity, it expanded its hours of operation to accommodate more students.
According to Sissi Elias, one of the interns at Paw Provisions, it is now open each weekday from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. because “many athletes have practice until 6:30 p.m. and they’ve asked us to stay open longer so they can come by.”
Not only does Paw Provisions provide free food for Wingate students, it has expanded to include clothes, feminine-hygiene products and school supplies. Its new “Don’t Dump, Donate” program collects donations at the end of each semester from students who are looking to get rid of some of their unneeded items. Paw Provisions collects these items and distributes them to students in need.
As Paw Provisions expands to accommodate the needs of more students,
more people are learning about the wonderful resource. Wright says that
since last December the store has been open 36 times and has served 871
students. She says they are averaging 50 students a week this semester.
One student, Grace Fongemy, has been going to Paw Provisions
regularly since last year. After finding out about the program through
Instagram and learning more in Dr. Wright’s “Food and Faith” class, she
wanted to check it out. She appreciates this resource.
“It gives the ability for people on campus to still get good food and not
have to worry about spending money on snacks,” Fongemy says.
“During the fall and spring there’s often fresh vegetables, and the people
who work there are very nice.”
As more students discover Paw Provisions, donated items are in high demand. The top needs include food such as bread, ramen, peanut butter and sports drinks as well as linens, clothing items and school supplies.
To donate to the free store, check out the Amazon wishlist or simply bring any unneeded items to the free store. For more information or to get involved, visit the Paw Provisions Instagram page (@ccgwingate) or email Wright at c.wright@wingate.edu.
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