Big 12 opponents UC Bearcats and the BYU Cougars work together to tackle food insecurity
A generous delivery of food arrived in Cincinnati thanks to BYU supporters ahead of the big game
A trailer truckload of food was sent to the UC Uptown campus courtesy of Brigham Young University’s sponsoring organization, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The generous act of service was designed to make a dent in food insecurity among college students.
More than 27,000 pounds of food was delivered to UC’s Fishwick Building Friday, Nov. 21. BYU volunteers and UC staff helped stack much of the food for future use before transporting a shipment of items to Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center on the main UC campus.
More than two dozen BYU supporters helped pantry staff sort and stock items a day before the weekend football match at Nippert Stadium between the Bearcats and the 11th-ranked BYU Cougars. The Bearcats fell 26-14. Fox Big Noon Kickoff captured the excitement of the game.
Journalists from Spectrum News, WLWT, WCPO, Fox 19 and Deseret News, a Salt Lake City-based daily, covered the food delivery event.
Supporters of Brigham Young University volunteer to help stock the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center at the University of Cincinnati. Photo/Ainsley Moore/University of Cincinnati.
Daniel Cummins, associate dean of students at the University of Cincinnati, offered his thanks to BYU supporters for providing much needed food.
“I haven’t had a donation like this from any kind of organization. Receiving this from a Big 12 community member, a conference member, is really moving,” Cummins told the Deseret News.
He said the donation spoke volumes about the principles and values shown by BYU supporters.
During the past academic year, 2,263 students, staff and faculty used the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center at the University of Cincinnati with more than 9,300 visits. Food insecurity among college students is a national problem.
College University Food Bank Association (CUFBA) states 30% of college students are food insecure and 17% have some form of housing insecurity.
“When Daniel first told me about this (donation), I think we were both a little speechless,” explained Nicole Mayo, vice provost of student affairs, to the Deseret News.
Brigham Young University alumni and supporters come to Fishwick Building to help stock a shipment of food for the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center. Photo provided.
Jim Wilson, chair of the BYU Alumni Cincinnati Chapter, says BYU Cougars often perform community service projects in the communities they visit during football or basketball games.
Food for the Bearcats Pantry and Resources was one of BYU’s projects in Cincinnati, but the group also collected hundreds of coats for elementary schoolchildren ahead of the UC-BYU game and donated them to the Cincinnati NAACP Winter Coat Drive.
Fans of either team were asked to bring coats to tailgate activities at Gettler Stadium ahead of Saturday’s game.
“When we come to a campus like this we don’t just come and have a party, but we try to leave the community a lot better than we found it,” says Wilson.
View and read coverage of the BYU food delivery and coat donation online.
Brigham Young University supporters sort food for the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center. Photo/Ainsley Moore/University of Cincinnati.
BYU supporters join UC staff for a photo at Fishwick Building. They unloaded a truck load of food for the Bearcats Pantry and Resource Center. Photo provided.
Featured top image shows Daniel Cummins, associate dean of students, with BYU supporters at UC's Fishwick Building unloading thousands of pounds of food. Photo provided.
Tags
- College-Conservatory of Music
- College of Pharmacy
- College of Medicine
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Allied Health Sciences
- Student Experience
- College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies
- College of Education, Criminal Justice, & Human Services
- Online
- Blue Ash College
- Clermont College
- In The News
- College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
- Graduate College
- College of Law
- Student Affairs
- College of Nursing
- Lindner College of Business
- College of Engineering and Applied Science
Related Stories
Big 12 opponents UC Bearcats and the BYU Cougars work together to tackle food insecurity
November 30, 2025
A generous delivery of food arrived in Cincinnati courtesy of Brigham Young University supporters ahead of Saturday’s big game. The Bearcats Pantry and Resource received 27, 000 pounds of food.
Crosstown Foodout: UC and Xavier food pantries call attention to food insecurity
December 13, 2024
The Crosstown Foodout allows fans of the Cincinnati Bearcats and Xavier Musketeers to compete off the basketball court by supporting a campus food pantry at each school. The effort to ease hunger comes as UC and Xavier ready for the Crosstown Shootout. Nationally, about 23% of college students on campuses experience food insecurity.
Back to School 2025: UC’s sustained growth
August 25, 2025
The University of Cincinnati will continue to see growth in enrollment as classes begin Monday, Aug. 25, with a projected 54,000 students — a 1.4% increase over last year.