About Us

Although the United States is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, we have a critical issue of food insecurity (not having enough food to eat). This is a common issue at colleges and universities across the country.

In the summer of 2016, Dr. Nancy Young brought together a graduate student, counselor and campus minister, all of whom had concerns that there are UMBC students struggling with food insecurity. The group began providing free bags of non-perishable groceries to self-identified students through the counseling center. Quickly, this food security action team began to grow as other students and staff who wanted to support student success through proper nutrition joined the team.

This group is exploring and identifying food insecurity on campus. It has also partnered with local and national programs to accomplish our goal that all students have enough healthy food to sustain them in their studies.

Retriever Essentials invites you to a new awareness of this critical need at UMBC as we further develop effective responses to ending food insecurity.