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Calvin Tunstall picks up a gallon of milk at Stocked & Reddie. The food pantry celebrated its first anniversary in July. Image by Bryan Clifton

Stocked & Reddie Celebrates One Year of Serving Team UAMS

Aug. 13, 2020 | Stocked & Reddie celebrated its one-year anniversary with cupcakes and the resumption of Thursday hours – all in its new location in the Monroe Building (formerly the Red Cross building).

Many changes have taken place at the UAMS food pantry since it opened in July 2019, said Mande Corbett, the Stocked & Reddie coordinator.

A major one is location — the food pantry initially was located in the Distribution Center and moved to the Monroe Building in March, just in time to switch to drive-thru operations because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As Arkansas reopened in June, Stocked & Reddie was able to open its new location to shoppers, albeit in a socially distanced way.

“It was so exciting reopening to shoppers,” said Corbett. “Our new facility has a walk-in cooler and freezer, which greatly expanded our food options. I’m so glad our members finally get to enjoy the benefits of this wonderful space.”

While operating as a drive-thru location, Stocked & Reddie was open only on Mondays. Thursday hours resumed in late July. Also this spring, the pantry started delivering dry goods and supplies to the Regional Campuses and launched Stocked & Reddie Plus to support quarantined staff and students via weekly no-contact doorstep delivery with volunteer drivers.

“We have learned to adjust to any circumstance and develop a plan to meet any need,” said Tonya Johnson, executive director of nutrition and hospitality services. “The time and place for a disaster relief food pantry presented itself with the coronavirus pandemic, and we were able to pivot our operations to meet that challenge with a drive-thru process and a statewide delivery program. With continued help from staff and students, we can do anything!”

Since it opened July 15, 2019, Stocked & Reddie has provided more than 68,000 meals to more than 1,100 active members, including 500 who recently joined from Arkansas Children’s Hospital, said Corbett. About 10% of the pantry’s members are students, she said.

Stocked & Reddie has been well received as a way to help stretch employees’ and students’ household budgets when needed, said Corbett.

When the pantry opened, a major focus was on providing its members with healthier options such as fresh produce and healthy recipes, Johnson said.

“We have seen a positive outcome as people comment that they are eating more salads, fruit, and trying vegetables they normally would not buy,” she said. “We are really exposing people to new ways of eating.”

In addition to dry goods and fresh produce, Stocked & Reddie offers members frozen, heat-sealed meals from the cafeteria, which are quite popular, Johnson said.

“This is one of my favorite things we offer because not only have we provided an additional 27,000 meals, but we also are preventing food waste,” she said.

Both Johnson and Corbett stressed that Stocked & Reddie would not be possible without the students and employees who volunteer their time, including the Project SEARCH interns. They also are grateful for the generous financial support, including Chancellor’s Circle grants, food donations from vendors and payroll deduction donations by employees.

“Team UAMS’ support for the food pantry is amazing,” said Johnson. “When our leadership discovered we had a food insecurity issue at UAMS, they acted. And when employees and students realized their fellow team members were struggling, they stepped up.”

Corbett said the first year of Stocked & Reddie has been challenging and exciting.

“I look forward to seeing what amazing things we’re able to do during Year Two,” she added.