UTHealth Houston food pantries win Heart of Nutrition Award

Student food pantries at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and UTHealth Houston School of Public Health were awarded the Heart of Nutrition Award for work with the American Heart Association’s College Pantry Collective.

The College Pantry Collective connects higher education institutions, community partners, and nonprofit organizations to strengthen access to nutritious foods and address food insecurity among students at higher education institutions.

Caitlin McAfee, senior program manager in the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at McGovern Medical School, won the award for The Mini Market, a student food pantry that offers a variety of nonperishable food items and hygiene products at no cost to medical students.

“Receiving the Heart of Nutrition Award is incredibly meaningful because it reflects the power of collaboration across higher education and community partners,” McAfee said. “Through the College Pantry Collective, institutions are intentionally supporting one another, sharing knowledge, problem-solving, and strengthening our individual campus efforts so we can better serve our students.”

Gretchen Walton, JD, MPH, associate professor, and Sara Grace Chan, graduate teaching assistant — both in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at the School of Public Health — won the award for their work with The Cupboard, a food pantry open to all students at UTHealth Houston.

Both the Mini Market and the Cupboard, as well as Cares Corner at Cizik School of Nursing at UTHealth Houston, offer food assistance to students who find it challenging to afford enough nutritious food or who are experiencing food insecurity.

“At UTHealth Houston and McGovern Medical School, this work is deeply connected to our commitment to student health and wellness,” McAfee said. “I’m especially proud to contribute to a shared vision that recognizes food security as foundational to academic success and long-term well-being.”