Campus Spotlight: The Passionate Staff of U-Access Food Pantry at UMass Boston

This blog is written by:

Cristian M. Orellana: Cristian Orellana is a 3rd year Philosophy & Public Policy student at UMass Boston, on track to pursue an Accelerated MBA. He is a Policy Intern for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and works for the Office of Student Leadership and Community Engagement at UMass Boston. Cristian is an active advocate for the Hunger Free Campus Bill in Massachusetts and is a part of the Student Leadership and Advisory Council at Swipe Out Hunger.

As a first generation Salvadoran-American, I used food pantries growing up, which were an essential resource for myself and my family. Later in life, I had the privilege to work for the Food Pantry & Social Service office, and this encouraged me to advocate for food security at University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston). I am the student leader I am today because of U-ACCESS — I would not have become Speaker of the Student Government and a member of the campus leadership council without having U-ACCESS services to meet my basic needs.

In 2014, U-ACCESS started with a box of food and four students majoring in human services. Now it serves as a pillar for UMass Boston and students’ basic needs, making sure every student that walks in has the resources they need to get through the day. To highlight the impact of U-ACCESS and the dedicated team behind it, I’ve interviewed three staff members of U-ACCESS: Arlene Wilhite, Pantry Coordinator; Danielle Nielsen, Social Services Coordinator; and Cara Cogliano, Pantry Director.

1. What does your day to day look like? 
Arlene Wilhite – Pantry Coordinator: I have been with U-ACCESS for 4 years as a full-time staff member and became a Pantry Coordinator at U-ACCESS after starting as an intern. My day starts off by picking up donations from Dunkin Donuts, and then I head to the office where students can get coffee and tea before they go to class. In general, my administrative duties include restocking snacks and meals, securing fresh produce, and overseeing the daily operations of the food pantry. 

Danielle Nielsen – Social Services Coordinator: No day is the same, some days are busier than others in student need. Usually the beginning of the semester is very busy. Students will reach out to U-ACCESS and from there I will work with the students on assessing their needs and giving them appropriate resources.

Cara Cogliano – Pantry Director: Every day is different. My responsibilities include the oversight of staff and students at U-ACCESS while ensuring students coming into the office have their basic needs met. I also manage campus relationships with other departments.

2. What is your favorite part about this position? 
Arlene Wilhite – Pantry Coordinator: I see students struggle and keep going, but I know it’s complicated when they’re hungry. The most fulfilling part of my job was seeing a mom of three, who was also a grad student, make a meal for her family with food from the pantry. She showed me a picture of the meals she made for herself and her children. So, that really hit close to home, and showed me that this is what I am doing for people. 

Danielle Nielsen – Social Services Coordinator: Helping students get to a place of stability so they can focus on school in place of having their basic needs met. Once those needs are met, seeing their confidence grow is the most rewarding and best part of my job. Sometimes students need someone to talk to further, and to know that they are welcome here at U-ACCESS and that we care about them. The transition and growth between freshman and senior year is a beautiful process to see.

Cara Cogliano – Pantry Director: The best part of the job are the people, the amazing group of students that I interact with from freshman to seniors, of all ages, and the team I work with as well. 

3. Where do you see U-ACCESS in 5 years? 
Arlene Wilhite – Pantry Coordinator: I hope U-ACCESS is still here. The reality is that we have no idea, not because it’s not needed, but because of the resources we depend on. I hope we can sustain what we do and that the University finds us important to keep around. I hope the students are the reason that U-ACCESS stays because it’s what they need. 

Danielle Nielsen – Social Services Coordinator: Ideally, for U-ACCESS to keep providing case management, we need to continue to strengthen our community partnerships and the programs we have now. A stable staff is important for these offices with turnover and uncertainty — instability can make it hard for the department as a whole. 

Cara Cogliano – Pantry Director: I hope U-ACCESS can continue to meet the needs of future students. We may change and adapt to the needs of the population.


U-ACCESS has grown from being a food pantry to offering a variety of services like SNAP assistance, emergency grants, housing assistance, tax preparation services, case management, counseling, and more. The work that the U-ACCESS staff takes on as anti-hunger champions is evidence of their passion to solve college hunger on our campus. These roles in higher education are critical, not only for students in Boston, but nationwide. I hope U-ACCESS will continue to be a cornerstone for all students at UMass Boston.