Continuing its strong efforts to support USC students and community members dealing with basic needs insecurities, the Gamecock CommUnity Shop is thankful for a great Giving Tuesday that will help power the shop towards the end of 2025.

Traditionally held the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year's Giving Tuesday was celebrated on Dec. 2, 2025, and the CommUnity Shop saw great participation from volunteers and donors to meet clients' needs.

As part of the shop's partnership with Harvest Hope Food Bank, shoppers at Kroger locally were able to contribute through the store's Giving Tuesday Food Drive. Volunteer coordinator Chandler Dailey boosted visibility for the shop on-site and helped customers donate during the four-hour event. In all, 280 items were donated at the store, some of the more than 1000 items that Pantry Pal volunteers, student leaders and U101 students helped process throughout the day.

"Food drives like this give us a lot more variety in the CommUnity Shop, things that college students want to eat," student volunteer coordinator Chandler Dailey says. "Clients are most interested in meals where you don't need to add other ingredients, so ramen is popular and anything that is easy and accessible."

In addition, the CommUnity Shop received $1,640 in monetary donations from USC's Giving Tuesday crowdfunding efforts, which will go towards weekly food purchases from Harvest Hope that supplement donations and keep shelves stocked. Already this semester, the CommUnity Shop has seen an unprecedented nearly 11,000 client visits.

The CommUnity Shop is committed to meeting the basic needs of all campus community members to empower success. USC students, faculty and staff can pick up free food, clothing and supplies from the shop in Suite 4000 of the Carolina Coliseum during business hours.

To support the shop, you can contribute or volunteer onsite, donate through the Amazon wishlist or give to the Gamecock Pantry Endowed Fund or Gamecock CommUnity Shop fund.