Welcome to TMA AmeriCorps VISTA Class '25
My name's Shurrell Hester I am passionate about the environment, our influence on it, and sustainable solutions. I enjoy spending time in nature and learning about what improves a person’s quality of life. I am hoping to apply what I am learning in this year of service with University of Maryland’s food system, to developing sustainable communities designed around the overall wellbeing of residents and visitors.
PROJECT -
TMA UMD Campus Food System Education VISTA – Project Summary
The Campus Food Systems Education Project at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD) is a collaborative initiative between the Department of Dining Services, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, Transform Mid-Atlantic (TMA), and community partners. This project strengthens campus and community food security and literacy by supporting three key programs: Campus Food Gardens, Terp Farm, and the Campus Pantry.
The Campus Pantry provides free groceries to UMD students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity, while also offering nutrition and cooking classes through its Teaching Kitchen. The Campus Food Gardens grow fresh produce for donation and serve as a space for education on sustainable agriculture and urban gardening. Terp Farm, a 5-acre sustainable vegetable operation, supplies UMD Dining Services and donates to the Campus Pantry. Together, these programs provide hands-on learning and employment opportunities for UMD students.
The AmeriCorps VISTA member will work across these programs, coordinating fresh produce deliveries, supporting gardening and nutrition education, and strengthening community partnerships. Under the supervision of the Green Dining Manager and the Campus Food Gardens Manager, the VISTA will help build a long-term Campus Food System Education program by developing training modules and an organizational structure to improve coordination between these essential food security initiatives.
PROGRESS:
Quarter Two Progress Summary: TMA UMD Campus Food System Education VISTA Project
🌱 Partnership & Collaboration Development
The VISTA project continues to strengthen partnerships with student organizations, C-TEN, TerptoTerp, Office of Sustainability, and local food banks and churches, which remain actively engaged in supporting the Campus Pantry and related initiatives. This quarter saw the expansion of student engagement, with new student groups collaborating to host cooking events at the UMD Teaching Kitchen. Additionally, seasonal food drives contributed a significant amount of non-perishable food items to the Campus Pantry.
A notable new partnership was formed with Shake Shack, which recently opened on campus. Their opening fundraiser provided financial support for the Campus Pantry and established an ongoing connection to promote food recovery and waste reduction education. These growing collaborations enhance awareness of the Campus Pantry and its resources while furthering the VISTA project’s mission of addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable food systems. Notable results include a 30% increase in Campus Pantry usage compared to the same period last year.
🙌 Volunteer & Resource Development
Volunteer recruitment and management efforts have expanded this quarter, continuing to leverage tabling at the Farmer’s Market and flyer distribution through social media to raise awareness of open volunteer hours. The project is now working to increase volunteer engagement across all three sites—the Campus Learning Garden (CLG), Campus Pantry, and Terp Farm—by combining targeted marketing efforts with the expertise of student interns.
A key milestone this quarter was securing funding from Shake Shack’s opening fundraiser to support the Campus Pantry. In addition, ongoing food donations from various community groups continue to provide essential non-cash resources for the pantry. These efforts ensure greater sustainability and accessibility of fresh and non-perishable food options for students, faculty, and staff in need.
🔄 Sustainability & Long-Term Planning
The site is preparing to recruit a new VISTA member, recognizing that an additional three years of service will be needed to fully sustain the program’s long-term goals. A major focus is on reducing dependence on grant funding by developing a more structured financial model, allowing for expansion of services, such as refrigerated access points and food lockers.
Additionally, the VISTA member is working closely with C-TEN to bridge remaining service gaps for students in need. By fostering cross-division collaboration within Student Affairs, this partnership provides a sustainable structure for addressing essential needs on campus beyond the duration of the VISTA project.
🏆 Other Accomplishments
- Successfully presented at a Community Garden Summit, representing AmeriCorps and the Campus Food Systems Project.
- Successfully renewed the DoGood Intern for the 2025-26 academic year to sustain student engagement.
- Secured funding for a new intern for Summer 2025, ensuring continued capacity-building within the project.
This quarter’s progress highlights strong momentum in expanding partnerships, securing new resources, and implementing strategies for long-term sustainability in support of food security and education at the University of Maryland, College Park. 🚀🍎