How To Start A College Food Pantry

Plan & Maintain a Food Bank to Combat Hunger

It can be unsettling to think that the person facing food insecurity sitting next to you in the classroom is doing so on an empty stomach – not because they chose to skip breakfast or lunch, but because they simply didn't have enough food to eat. But this is the reality for many college students, and the problem has been getting worse in recent years.

But there's good news: There are many other students who see the problem and are determined to make a difference. If you worry that your classmates might not have enough to eat, and you want to ensure that no one has to go to sleep on an empty stomach, this guide is for you. Let's explore how to start a food pantry on your college campus.

Campus-Based Food Pantries FAQ

Though many communities offer food pantries, sometimes there simply isn't enough to go around. Besides that, college students might face personal obstacles that prevent them from taking advantage of the food pantries in the area – they might be in class during the times when the pantries are open, might not have the transportation they need to get there, or could simply be ineligible due to their status as a student. Those are just a few reasons why campus-based food pantries are becoming quite popular.

Square One: Finding Support for Your College Food Pantry

Ready to get started on creating a college food pantry? We'll be honest: It's not for the faint of heart. A lot of work goes into the planning, creation and maintenance of a food pantry. Here are the steps to get you started.

What if college admins aren't thrilled with the idea?

It can sometimes be tough for students to admit they're hungry; it can be just as tough for college administration to admit that their students aren't getting enough to eat. As a result, there could be some push-back against the idea of a campus food pantry. If this happens, it's important to remind them of the facts: rising tuition rates, more non-traditional students, less financial aid to go around and increasing costs of living all combine to create a situation where food insecurity is not only possible, but for some, probable. Approaching the situation from an understanding, compassionate and well-informed stance can help win over those who might be resistant to the idea of a food pantry on campus.

Next Steps: Setting Up Your Campus Food Pantry

Now that the groundwork is in place, it's time to actually set up the pantry. Let's dive right in.

Choose a location.

The location of a food pantry depends upon many factors. It has to be on campus. It might be as small as a closet and hold only non-perishable foods, or it might be as large as a classroom, or even a small stand-alone building, depending upon what available space the college has to offer. It should be neat, clean and able to store food. If there will be perishables available, it's a good idea to place the pantry in close proximity to the dining hall or similar area where sinks, refrigerators and freezers are available.

Set hours of operation.

Just like the location, much of this depends on what the school wants to make available. Some pantries are open once a week, while others open up for a few hours each day. Some stay open after many classes have finished, so students don't have to worry about rushing to get to the pantry between classes. Hours of operation will also depend upon how many volunteers are willing to help, as well as how you choose to provide assistance.

Figure out the necessities.

Almost all food pantries will need the following areas to make the experience more comfortable for everyone:

• A waiting area for those who need to use the pantry, fill out paperwork, etc.
• A room with ample space for all available items. The room will need shelves, bins (preferably with wheels), refrigerators or freezers (for perishable goods), a dolly for moving items, a table for sorting and a hand-washing station.
• Supplies like paper and pens are essential, but so are others that might not immediately come to mind, like extra boxes and bags, cleaning products and hand sanitizers.
• A collection area for donations.
• Secure storage where legal paperwork, user files and other sensitive information is stored, preferably kept locked. A personal storage area for volunteers to keep their items is also a good idea.

Find volunteers.

Look to student organizations, talk to fraternities and sororities, put up flyers asking for help, and speak to service organizations about the amazing opportunities available at the food pantry. Offer patrons of the food pantry an opportunity to volunteer there as well – they might jump at the chance to help others in the same position they're in.

Get the word out.

Spread the word about the pantry coming to the school. Do this through many of the ways mentioned above: put out flyers, posters, handouts and more. Make sure college professors, administrators and staff have plenty of information, so they can reach out to those who might need pantry services or want to volunteer.

College Food Pantry Supplies & Procedures

Now it's time to get things going. There are many moving parts – this is where a strong committee will come in very handy, as well as lots of volunteers. Here's what you need to know.

• Determine how food will be provided. There are two main types of pantries: those that offer pre-packaged food, such as a box or bag with enough food to sustain a person for a certain number of days, and those that offer a “shopping” experience, where students can come into the pantry and take what they need, just as they would in a grocery store. The pre-packaged model works well for pantries with very little space or those that don't have the ability to stay open for more than a few hours each week. When using the shopping model, students can either shop under the guidance of a volunteer or they can fill out a form indicating what they would like, and the volunteers can box the items up for them.
• Consider privacy. Even though anyone can fall on hard times, an unfortunate stigma lingers around the idea of not having enough to eat. To help students avoid that feeling of shame and inadequacy, many campus-based food pantries keep things as anonymous as possible. They might opt to set up no-questions-asked appointments for individuals, or they might open the doors on certain days on the honor policy of “take what you need and nothing more.”
• Check out school policies. When it comes to any large endeavor like this, having strong policies in place is the key to ensuring long-term success. Speak with the school about their policies concerning risk management, data collection, budgeting, confidentiality and more.
• Consider food safety. Providing safe food is vitally important. Keep in mind basic hygiene, such as hand washing often, no smoking in the facility and keeping food at the proper temperatures. Rotate out the stock, ensuring the oldest cans and boxes go out first. Have a good pest control plan in place and always be on the lookout for food that has been contaminated or compromised.
• Figure out storage and packaging. Depending upon what you have on hand during the day-to-day running of the pantry, you'll have a variety of storage needs. Boxed foods need to be kept away from walls and floors, on sturdy shelves if possible. Cold foods must be refrigerated or frozen. When packaging food for distribution, ensure it goes into clean, sturdy boxes or bags.
• How will donations work? When someone wants to donate food or money to the pantry, it's important to keep track of everything and ensure it all gets the right place. With food donations, this might simply mean putting it in the proper place after logging into your tracking system. But with monetary donations, things get a little trickier. Speak with college administration on how to handle this, as each school might have a different policy.

7 Tips for Operating a Successful Food Pantry

Now that the pantry is up and running, it's important to keep it going. It will soon become a must-have option for students who want to avoid hunger. Here are some points to keep in mind about operation.

• Work to raise funds and donations. Fundraising events are crucial to keep a food pantry running. In addition to asking for funding from organizations like the alumni association, university foundations, Greek organizations and the fiscal sponsor, consider holding food drives on the college campus, or even out in the community. It's also possible to garner donations of services, rather than cash or food – for instance, a local printing company might be happy to print the flyers for the pantry.
• Keep getting the word out. As new students enroll, it's important that they know about the resources available to them. Once the pantry is up and running, much of the notice about it will come from word-of-mouth. However, you also want to pull in those who might not be in the loop. Here are some options:
  • Create large, laminated posters for common areas that explain how the food pantry works.
  • Ask the college to include food pantry flyers in resource packets for new students.
  • Have plenty of flyers at strategic places on campus: student services, the career center, student health services and more.
  • Keep updated information on the school website or school blog.
  • Post ads on local buses and campus shuttles.
  • Create short video PSAs to play on campus televisions.
  • Get in touch with the media – radio, newspaper, local magazines and more – and ask if they would like to cover the good things the pantry is doing.
• Figure out a way to track success. It's vitally important to track where donations come from, what the most popular items are, how many students are helped, how many hours the volunteers provide and much more. Create logs to keep track of everything and keep them up to date. One of the first steps for training any volunteer should be teaching them how to use the logs.
• Solicit regular evaluations. Want to know how the pantry is really doing? Request that users of the pantry fill out anonymous surveys to detail their experience. Ask them to offer ideas as to what could be done better. Do the same on a regular basis with volunteers. This can help pinpoint areas where the food pantry could improve.
• Keep administration in the loop. Now that the pantry's performance is being measured, let administration know how things are going. Creating a quarterly report that details how many people used the food pantry, the busiest hours, how many volunteers were needed, any shortfalls in providing food or other items, how much it all cost the school, and other pertinent information should be included. Be ready to meet with the school on a regular basis to answer any questions that the report can't.
• Always look for fresh volunteers. Every volunteer needs a break from time to time, so make sure they can get it by having a constantly rotating list of volunteers to help out. Always be on the lookout for those who might be interested. Besides, each volunteer who gets that wonderful feeling of helping others will be more likely to talk about the pantry and pull in even more people who want to help.
• Consider expansion if the need is too great. If the food pantry starts out as a small closet and runs through all donations within a matter of a day or two, it might be time to upgrade to a larger space and more food available. Remember that tracking report suggested earlier? That's going to come in very handy when approaching college administration about finding a larger space.

Additional Resources for College Food Pantries

College food pantries take a lot of work – but lots of dedicated people can create a booming success. Here are a few other resources that can keep them on the right track.

• College and University Food Bank Alliance: Getting Started?This is the starting point for those who want to learn more about CUFBA and start their own campus food pantry.
• Feeding America: Research.Get up-to-date on hunger in the United States, especially on campus, so you're prepared to talk to others about the problem.
• Food/Fundraising Tool Kit.This presentation is a great way to get started on a major donation drive or fundraiser.
• IRS: Tax Information for Charities and Other Non-Profits.This government site includes important information on taxes, sponsors and other information for those who are starting a food pantry or any other charitable organization.
• Running a Campus Food Pantry.This comprehensive guide answers many questions about food pantries, and includes valuable templates for training volunteers, gathering information, logging donations and more.
• Safe and Healthy Food Pantries Project.This guide offers actionable steps to ensure the food safety and good health of all patrons of the pantry.
• So You Want to Start a Campus Food Pantry? A How-to Manual.This guide from Oregon Food Bank is another great read to help prepare students for the expectations, rules and more of running their own pantry.
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.Though this might not be of much assistance when creating a food pantry, it is important information to have on hand for students who might qualify (this especially applies to students who have families that include small children).
• Starting Your Own Food Pantry.This guide from Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee focuses on how to start a community pantry, but offers excellent information for those starting campus pantries as well.
• Volunteer Handbook.Presented by the Food Bank of Delaware, this serves as both a great way for potential volunteers to learn more about their responsibilities and a potential blueprint for campus food pantries when creating their own manuals for volunteers.
• You Give Goods.This site offers a place for individuals to begin food drives, contribute to those already in place or find other ways to help those in need.