Feature Stories

From empty shelves to full tables: How medical students built a food lifeline in Little Rock

At the UAMS College of Medicine, it wasn’t a new program or grant that sparked change, it was a few medical students who saw a gap in care and decided to fill it.

For years, the clinic’s food pantry technically existed, but it was rarely stocked. In practice, many patients didn’t even know it was there. When third-year medical student Amy Schexnayder began volunteering at the clinic, she was surprised to learn the pantry existed at all. It wasn’t a lack of need in the community, it was a lack of resources. Arkansas ranks number one in the nation for people living with food insecurity. At the same time, thousands of pounds of food are discarded in Central Arkansas every day.

Amy’s background working with food insecurity made the problem impossible to ignore. “I realized we had this space, and we had patients who needed food, but there was no consistent system to keep it stocked,” she said. That realization sparked a student-run initiative that now supplies fresh produce and prepared foods weekly to clinic patients and community members alike.

Turning surplus into sustenance

The solution came through food rescue. Amy began coordinating with local area grocery stores to collect unused food at the end of the day. When she connected with Potluck Food Rescue, the project gained both momentum and expertise. The organization is dedicated to helping fight food insecurity in Arkansas by redirecting food to organizations that fight hunger. Working alongside Potluck’s food safety specialists, student volunteers now provide fresh produce and safely repackaged meals that would otherwise go to waste. Every Monday, volunteers rotate through a well-choreographed routine: clearing old stock, picking up donations, and restocking the pantry so it’s ready for the week ahead.

The pantry is open to any clinic patient or community member, often offering fresh fruits, vegetables, and items that are otherwise difficult to access in the food deserts that form the surrounding area.

The power of showing up

Building the system wasn’t easy. Recruiting volunteers was an early challenge. “Every week I think, please let someone step up,” Amy shared. “And someone always does. I’m so, so grateful for that.”

That consistency has made a tangible difference. “We’re meeting a need directly for our patients,” She said. “When I realized how many people rely on us, that’s when it really hit me how much impact we’ve made in just a year.”

For Amy, the meaning is often found in the smallest moments. “If we’re saving someone a trip tonight, or if this is the closest food pantry to their house, that’s something I’m proud of.” She’s quick to highlight that she is not the only student spearheading the effort, pointing out multiple times throughout our interview the team behind the effort, including fourth-year Noah Wood.

Food Can Be Medicine

The food pantry initiative is not only about addressing hunger, but about acknowledging how closely health is tied to education and health. Amy points out that many patients face not only limited resources, but also limited information about nutrition and diet. Without consistent access to fresh food, it becomes nearly impossible to follow medical advice or make sustainable lifestyle changes.

“A lack of resources and a lack of information go hand in hand,” Schexnayder said. “If we can help bridge even part of that gap, it matters.”

A model made to be shared

Perhaps the most powerful part of this story is how replicable it is. Amy hopes other schools and clinics will borrow from what they’ve built.

“I think other places could absolutely implement this,” she said. “You don’t need a dedicated organization to make it happen. You can go straight to Whole Foods or contact your local grocery stores. They probably already donate food.”

Her advice is simple: “All it takes is a student and a car. You can provide good, healthy food for your patients. If people want to steal this idea, that would be awesome. It’s free.”

And in Little Rock, thanks to a few determined students and a lot of heart, it’s helping to feed a community.