Written by Aja Griffin
The Table, Harding University’s student food resource center, supports students experiencing food insecurity. With shelves stocked with essentials and a welcoming environment, The Table is a place where students can come and be filled.
Emma Wolke, partnership coordinator for The Table, works with organizations on campus and in the Searcy community to strengthen the center’s mission. She said the opportunity to serve in this capacity is meaningful.
“I was inspired to work with The Table because it is a great opportunity to help people with a simple, but very important need,” Wolke said.
The Table operates as an inclusive space where any Harding student can access food and household essentials, removing the stigma often accompanying food insecurity. Wolke has seen firsthand how valuable this resource is to students.
“The Table is a great resource for those who are experiencing food insecurity. People are in need of food, and it is here on campus at no charge to them,” Wolke said. “It is also helpful because it is open to everyone who has a Harding ID. So, if you just don’t feel like going all the way to Walmart for snacks or laundry detergent, then you don’t have to.”
Samantha Haywood, a social media coordinator and board member for The Table, shares a passion for addressing food insecurity. Having volunteered with the Arkansas Food Bank and come from humble beginnings herself, she said she is dedicated to making a difference in the Harding community.
“The Table helps educate people who aren’t aware of what food insecurities are,” Haywood said. “This helps us end the stigma of what being food insecure is and that everyone is welcome at The Table.”
Haywood said awareness was imported and cited statistics that revealed the issue’s depth.
“Food insecurity affects 30% of college students,” Haywood said. “Students who are food insecure are three times more likely to drop out of college. We did a survey for students on Harding’s campus, and it showed that many were food insecure. A lot of people don’t realize you don’t have to be starving to be food insecure. Food insecurity is based on whether you’re getting the proper nutrition in your daily diet.”
For Estaban Munoz, The Table’s data and operations coordinator, working with the center allows him to combine his skills with a meaningful cause. Munoz ensures that The Table’s inventory and system data are accurate and functional, helping the center operate smoothly. He first learned about the opportunity through a friend during his sophomore year and saw it as a great fit.
“As a Walton Scholar, many of my international friends have asked me about The Table’s items in stock,” Munoz said. “They’ve shared with me how much of a blessing The Table is, especially when they are running low on meal swipes, DCB, or other products.”
Munoz believes that more people need to recognize the reality of food insecurity on campus and how The Table provides tangible support to students in need.
“The Table not only provides a way to serve those in need but also offers students the opportunity to take what they need, without cost,” Munoz said.
Students and faculty can support The Table’s mission through volunteering, donations, and spreading awareness. Whether through service projects, fundraisers, or simply telling a friend, there are many ways to get involved.
“We could always use more volunteers,” Wolke said. “One of the biggest things is having people there to make a friendly and comfortable environment for shoppers.”
