Our Crowdfunding Groups
Thanks to generous donors and support, in July, 2021 the UMD Campus Pantry moved to its new, permanent location in the ground-floor of the South Campus Dining building. The Campus Pantry now includes adequate refrigeration and freezer space to consistently stock fresh and frozen foods, additional food storage space, dedicated door access, resource room for students, and teaching kitchen to teach healthy cooking basics. The Pantry is open Monday through Friday 10 am-5 pm. This fall, the Pantry is serving approximately 1,700 visits per month, which is up from 600 visits per month during the same time last year.
Our Mission
The UMD Campus Pantry mission is to alleviate food insecurity among the University of Maryland College Park campus community by providing emergency food to students, faculty, and staff in need.
Our Vision
Our vision is a University of Maryland community where every student, faculty and staff member has reliable access to an adequate supply of affordable, safe and nutritious food.
Our Story
The UMD Campus Pantry opened in 2014 in response to a growing awareness of the number of students, staff, and faculty experiencing food insecurity on our campus. Since then, the team at the pantry have worked to alleviate the stress of food insecurity by providing emergency food, promoting sustainable food practices, and sharing local resources and raising awareness. Located in the ground floor of the South Campus Dining Hall, the Campus Pantry provides a safe, confidential and dignified experience for its patrons, providing short term relief and direction toward long term solutions for themselves and in some cases, their families.
Food Insecurity on Campus
Food insecurity – the lack of reliable access to sufficient quantities of affordable, safe, nutritious food
In 2015, researchers from the School of Public Health conducted a food insecurity survey across campus, prompting a larger and on-going study that the Pantry is involved with today. Led by the University of Maryland Counseling Center Research Unit in partnership with the University of Maryland Department of Dining Services, University Health Center, and Maryland Parent and Family Association, the Food Access and Student Well-Being Study has surveyed over 4,901 undergraduate and graduate students since the summer of 2017. Of the students surveyed, 20% reported being food insecure, and the study found that those who reported this were more likely to report issues in other areas of wellness, whether physically, emotionally, or academically. The University will be repeating this survey in Spring 2023.
How You Can Help
Be Aware, Volunteer, and Donate!
Funds raised from this campaign will go towards the UMD Campus Pantry operating funds. The operations fund supplements food donations by allowing the Campus Pantry to purchase quality, nutritious food and supplies needed to operate the Campus Pantry program including the new educational workshops. The Campus Pantry is launching Campus Pantry Kitchen Starter Kit which include olive oil, spices, salt & pepper, stock, flour and other kitchen essentials. With every $20 donated, we can provide one Kitchen Starter Kit.
For more information on the Pantry, how to donate food and volunteer, visit:
Gifts in support of the University of Maryland are accepted and managed by the University of Maryland College Park Foundation, Inc., an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization authorized by the Board of Regents. Contributions to the University of Maryland are tax deductible as allowed by law. Please see your tax advisor for details.