A Q&A With Mana Tangirala, Feed the Pack’s Public Relations Coordinator

From now until Nov. 26, NC State is facing off against UNC-Chapel Hill in the third annual Pantry Bowl — a friendly competition to see which university can rally the most gifts for their campus food pantry while raising awareness of food insecurity. 

Last year, the strength of the Wolfpack propelled NC State to the top spot, with more than 1,100 gifts that went immediately to work making a difference for pantry patrons. If NC State exceeds its 2022 total number of monetary gifts (1,128), Feed the Pack will receive an additional $15,000 from alumni TJ ’98 and Erin ’99 Trantham. 

Mana Tangirala, a sophomore international studies major and Feed the Pack Food Pantry’s public relations coordinator, recently shared some thoughts about her first Pantry Bowl as a staff member and about why donor support is so important for the pantry’s success.

Why did you decide to get involved with Feed the Pack?

I got involved with Feed the Pack after my friend told me about the pantry. I was really happy to learn that I earned a position on the leadership team so that I could spread the Feed the Pack message to our community. 

Why is Feed the Pack so important?

Feed the Pack is essential to our community because we meet the basic needs of our patrons so that they can focus on their education and their time here at NC State.

How do you feel about participating in your first Pantry Bowl as a member of the leadership team?

I’m so excited to see the NC State community come together again this year! It makes me happy knowing that people are dedicated to reducing food insecurity on campus.

What would you like donors to know about their support?

Your gift supports our operations by providing the valuable resources that meet the basic needs of our patrons, so that they can focus on studying and their families instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from. 

Despite my short time working for Feed the Pack, I’ve always admired how much the staff and students value the pantry. 

Without the support of the Wolfpack community, we would not be able to serve patrons who need our help. With the money raised from this year’s Pantry Bowl, we will be able to afford the staff and resources to keep our shelves stocked so that patrons can trust that we’ll always support them.

What would you like someone considering making a Pantry Bowl gift to know about their impact? 

Feed the Pack patrons are resilient individuals who work every day toward getting their degrees and providing for their families. 

Every member of our community has an opportunity to support them on their journey. A gift of any size will reduce food insecurity on campus and meet the needs of our community with dignity and respect. Thank you, and go Pack!