From the frontlines of health care work to the front pages of investigative journalism, UNC Asheville alumni are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with their own expertise and experience. We’ll be bringing you their stories, along with the stories of our continued UNC Asheville community, knowing that we are Bulldogs, wherever we are.
Lisa Riggsbee, a 2015 graduate in health and wellness, recently found herself having to switch gears after she was furloughed from her position as the association director of community health at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Riggsbee decided to keep working toward helping her community through this time of crisis, and returned to her roots in food assistance by working with Loaves and Fishes, a network of emergency food pantries in Charlotte.
“I work in community health typically and my internship while I was in school was with a food assistance program with the YMCA in Asheville,” Riggsbee said. “Growing up, my parents helped start the Clemmons Food Pantry so food assistance is in my blood.
“The opportunity with Loaves and Fishes has helped me go back to my roots and really put my knowledge, skills and passion to work during this time of need,” Riggsbee said.
It’s challenging work, Riggsbee said, because the operation could be put on hold at any time due to the pandemic. But it’s rewarding work, as well.
“The greatest reward is knowing that we are providing food to folks who need it in this time of such uncertainty,” Riggsbee said. “We are able to help people fill gaps that they are experiencing through perishable and nonperishable food.”
Riggsbee said her work has a strong foundation in her classes in health parity and health communication at UNC Asheville. “Ameena Batada and Kathie Garbe had a huge impact on my learning and development both as a student and as a professional.”
And while Riggsbee continues to work and engage with her community through a time of great uncertainty, she said she finds hope in seeing the generosity and caring nature in others.
“Each day we have people bringing in food donations. This gives me hope and every time people stop by to bring in donations, I say to myself, ‘man, people are so good,’” Riggsbee said. “During time of crisis, people really step up to help their neighbor and I am honored to be part of this community.”
As Riggsbee's story shows, those already struggling with food insecurity are particularly impacted by financial hardship during COVID-19. With 40% of university students across the country struggling with food insecurity, providing healthy food is vital to supporting our UNC Asheville students at home and in the classroom. The Food Equity Initiative is an on-campus program dedicated to providing healthy food to students struggling with food insecurity. The program is now providing one-on-one support for students staying in the area who are struggling to find healthy food options they can afford while off-campus.
You can take action in support of UNC Asheville students today by making a gift in support of the Food Equity Initiative: unca.edu/Bulldogs
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