University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Athletics Partners With PORCH For Food Drive
November 25, 2025 | General, Student-Athlete Development
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina Athletics proudly partnered with PORCH, a local non-profit organization, on Monday evening to host an exclusive student-athlete-propelled food drive at the Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Student-athletes from various sports came together to donate over 300 items that will be donated to a local food pantry.
PORCH's mission is to distribute fresh and non-perishable food to families, pantries and schools in need throughout the Chapel Hill and Carrboro areas to have healthy foods, nutritious snacks and meals that would otherwise be unaffordable.
"Being a student-athlete here at UNC is such a blessing," volleyball standout Chelsea Thorpe said. "We are blessed with platforms to create change right in our own backyards. PORCH has done so much in the community to help with food insecurity, and we want to be on that mission with them. Nobody should have to worry about what they are going to eat around the holidays."
"Participating in the food drive reinforces that our responsibility extends beyond athletics," Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development Cricket Lane said. "It allows our student-athletes and staff to stand alongside our community (Duke and NC State) in addressing food insecurity, serve with purpose and demonstrate the values we strive to uphold every day."
PORCH has proudly served 2,530 individuals each month, delivered 1,500 non-perishable bags of food to local food pantries per year and has recorded that 85 percent of families say that PORCH allows them to provide healthier meals to their families.
"As student-athletes, it's important for us to give back to the communities that support and shape us," track & field team member Koshi Umerah said. "Food is a basic human need, and it's something we all connect over. Around this time of year, many people in our Carolina community may experience food insecurity, so partnering with organizations like PORCH allows us to come together for a common purpose: supporting those around us."
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