The poor college student just scraping by is practically a stereotype. But there’s an entire shop in the Carolina Coliseum devoted to making that stereotype a thing of the past.
The Gamecock CommUnity Shop is a free resource for any Gamecock who might need groceries, school supplies or a new suit for an interview.
“Basic needs and food insecurity are ongoing challenges across American college campuses,” says Ero Aggelopoulou-Amiridis, first lady of the university. She has taken a keen interest in this kind of support elsewhere over the years, and the Gamecock CommUnity Shop is no different.
It serves as a sort of one-stop shop for most necessities for students and even faculty and staff members. The shop comprises the Gamecock Pantry, Carolina Closet and Self-Expression Closet.
“The Gamecock CommUnity Shop is doing a wonderful job providing assistance to members of our USC family who face those challenges,” Aggelopoulou-Amiridis says.
But resources can always be enhanced. That premise is on full display right now: The shop was renovated over the summer. With new flooring, lighting, shelves and furniture, it looks more like a retail space, according to Rachel Brasell, the shop’s basic needs coordinator.
A wide variety of foods, toiletries and household items are available year-round from the Gamecock Pantry.
“We are excited to stock the new shelves with the donations we’ve been getting from the New Student Orientation drive,” Brasell says.
Student drives and corporate gifts certainly help, but the shop wouldn’t succeed without support from the entire Gamecock community, including alumni, faculty, staff and even parents.
Rob and Paige Robertory found out about the pantry on one of their many visits to see their son, a marine science major who graduated from USC in 2020. “It seemed like a great way to give back to the school that provided our son with a wonderful education,” Paige says.
Addressing food insecurity is something the couple is passionate about. “We see a lot of it in the Washington, D.C., area,” she says. “It is sad to think of students who are trying to make something of themselves by going to college but can’t afford food on a regular basis.”
By donating to the CommUnity Shop’s general fund, they are helping to address current community needs. This kind of giving has been foundational, enabling the pantry to expand services while consolidating three resources under one umbrella.
Men’s dress clothing — including ties donated by USC president Michael Amiridis — as well as casual and formal options, are available through the Carolina Closet.
“We have seen great progress in the past few years with the consolidation of different resources in one location, new partnerships with local food industries and increased awareness and support from the community,” Aggelopoulou-Amiridis says.
So how exactly does this all work? “People get 40 points a month for the pantry,” Brasell says. “If you have dependents in your household, you get an extra 10 points per person.” Items typically cost a half-point or one point each, and there are daily limits on some items, but you can always come back the next day and get more.
Similarly, people get 25 points a semester for the Carolina Closet. Once selected, clothes are theirs to keep.
Students sometimes ask Brasell about monetary help as well. While the shop doesn’t provide that assistance, she is happy to help them apply for emergency funds through a basic needs referral. “It’s never lost on me how much students benefit from relatively small amounts of money or help,” she says. “Just $1,000 can help someone finish their degree, or getting food from the pantry will help them to afford to buy other things they need.”
The staff and donors understand it can be hard to ask for help with basic necessities. So caring staff members and volunteers do everything they can to make visits to the CommUnity Shop easy and stress-free. For the Robertorys, who don’t want attention for their philanthropy, it’s the perfect way to give back.
“We like the idea of helping them quietly and anonymously,” Rob says. “It is a great way to have a positive impact on students in need while keeping the support and help for these students unencumbered and without drawing attention to their needs.”
Brasell agrees about the shop’s impact, but also stresses that their services are for the entire Gamecock community. “It is a free resource,” she reiterates. “Stop by for a snack if you have back-to-back classes. Get a new outfit for the weekend. Grab a new toothbrush. This is your community: volunteer, donate, and use the shop.”
Future plans include developing a robust food recovery system on campus and partnering with local international markets to diversify inventory.
The Gamecock Community Shop contributes to the success of the university in its mission to provide an affordable and accessible college education to every student who wants to pursue a USC degree. When Brasell gets to help a student, she knows the shop is fulfilling its role in that mission.
“When we were looking at one student’s emergency funding application,” she says, “he got a little tearful and said, ‘You don’t know how much this means to me. This is the first time I’ve felt like there’s hope in a long time.'”
Pantry Partner
The Gamecock CommUnity Shop is an important resource for students as well as faculty and staff members, but the shop is only as good as the donations it receives. Food Lion has become an important partner: in addition to donating food items, the supermarket chain gave new shelving to the pantry as part of this summer’s renovations.
