starting a

food pantry
on a University Campus
 Starting a Food Pantry on Your Campus
The awareness of food insecurity on college campuses has grown exponentially in the last 8-10 years, and many
universities are developing resources, like the George Washington University’s food pantry The Store, for their student
community. Much of the work done at GW to create our food pantry in the Fall of 2016 was guided by colleagues across
the country who have gone before us, as well as the research and resources from the College and University Food Bank
Alliance (CUFBA). Their toolkit is a model in the field and was essential in the creation of The Store. This document is
not meant to replace any existing resources that exist on this topic, but was developed to outline our experience and the
seven most important questions and decisions that a university should make when embarking on this type of an initiative.

What are the values and guiding principles driving this effort?
It is essential to identify the principles behind your endeavor to create a food pantry, and clearly state
them to stakeholders. The value in doing so sets the tone for the work and provides organizers a basis
to guide and justify the decisions made for the project.

• Education is a right, not a privilege, and it has the power to overcome any and all obstacles

The • When you identify a need and you have the power and opportunity to make an impact, you have a
responsibility to do so
• Trust and believe the students who have requested access to the Store
Store’s • Have faith in these students to take only what they need
• Students using the Store must be respected and empowered so they can take back control of this

Guiding aspect of their lives

• Respect the anonymity and privacy of the students using the Store
• The Store is providing a bridge for students but is not a permanent solution to issues of affordability
Values • This effort can not impact current donation programs from GW to the community and we must not
negatively impact existing community resources and programs

Is there a need on your campus?

The most recent national study, Hunger on Campus (CUFBA), found that 48% of students surveyed
faced some level of food insecurity in the last 30 days. This national data is an important reference
point, but it is essential to gain an understanding of the realities on your own campus, which will help
determine if there is a need on campus and if a food pantry could potentially address that need.

GW adapted its survey from the CUFBA Toolkit found online. Need surveys are also a great time to get student feedback
on the types of items students need, and how the pantry will be run. The most effective survey at GW was administered
by adding one question to the existing graduation survey, which has an exceptional 90%+ response rate. This provided
the data needed to know that there was a need that had to be addressed on GW’s campus.

Where and how will the pantry get supplies and inventory?
There are a number of potential sources for stocking your food pantry, and gathering a number of
diverse sources is highly recommended. Local food banks make great partners as they allow for
a reliable source of food supplies, typically offer food at low prices, provide training, and serve as a
community network for information. Local businesses, including Whole Foods, Panera, Starbucks,
and Trader Joe’s, can be incredible partners too. That type of support can take the form of direct
product donations and profit-sharing. On a college campus there are other resources, including a
dining program or catering office, who can become invaluable allies in accessing leftovers and other
food items. Local hotels, dentist’s, and doctor’s offices can be sources of personal hygiene products
and tolietries. The Store does not track inventory as the trends of what students wanted became
clear and there did not seem to be a need.
 How will you pay for the food pantry?
Start by creating a budget based on an estimate you have for how much The combination of
food you think you will need. Other items to consider in your budget three refrigerators, one
planning should include shelving units, refrigerators, tables, and cleaning chest freezer, three
tables, and 12 shelving
supplies. These costs can accumulate quickly if not taken into consideration units cost about $4000.
from the start. Each university will need to know where the money is The equipment was
coming from prior to launching a pantry. Will you reach out to outside purchased for The Store
sources for donations, or will the university pay for the majority of with year-end money
costs? How will you continue to support the pantry financially after the from the previous
fiscal year.
initial energy fades?

GW based its initial budget on 12,000 pounds of food a year. By October 2016 the
number of shoppers had increased to approximately 250, and it became clear that this
might not be enough food to meet the demand. The current estimate is that a total of
500 students will use The Store annually, with a need for 24,000 pounds of food per
year. Most of this food comes from a local food bank that charges $.19 a pound, which
is a very reasonable cost of about $4560 per year. GW is lucky to have donors who
provided the funds to pay for all of the expected food costs for the first year.

Where will the pantry be located?

Location is key. The pantry should be in a central location on campus that is accessible for all
students. It is also recommended to consider a space that can accomodate food safety requirements,
student access, and proper food storage for all food items. Many food pantries get moved around
year after year due to space constraints. It is important to find a location and maintain it so that
students feel that their needs are prioritized.

The Store is located in the center of campus, in the basement level of a new residence hall that is open from 6am-2am
every day. Shoppers can access The Store anytime during those hours. GW considered a location that would be discreet
for anonymity purposes, but also in a location that students would feel comfortable accessing.

How will access be monitored and determined?

There are a few key questions to be answered regarding access. Will the pantry be restricted to
students, or will it serve staff and other community members as well? How will you determine the
need for those who request access? The answer to these questions might affect the hours that your
pantry operates. Will volunteers be present during hours of operation, or is there another method to
gain access?

GW decided to use a tap system with student ID cards for convenient access and to safeguard confidentiality. Students
only need to provide their GW email address and ID number to access the space. They were not required to give any other
information so as to protect their anonymity and privacy. No volunteers are present when students access The Store.
 How will the pantry be staffed?
Volunteers are typical for staffing the pantry during hours of operation. They may accomplish tasks
such as stocking, inventory, cleaning, and daily upkeep. Decide on what sorts of tasks the volunteers
need to accomplish and on a training plan to ensure that they have the knowledge and experience
necessary to staff the pantry without constant supervision. Who will volunteer and how will you recruit
these individuals? Aside from volunteers, you also have to consider how to manage the pantry on a
day-to-day basis. Who will train the volunteers, manage donations, and monitor daily needs? Who will
lead the project? Who will reach out to community partners? How will you manage food pickups?

Final Thoughts
There are many questions to be answered in a project like this, but with the right partners and
stakeholders, appropriate resources, and quite a bit of luck, this can be successful on any college
campus. GW is happy to serve as a resource for anyone trying to launch this type of project in your
university community.

Notes from shoppers left

anonymously at The Store,
some on notebook paper,
while others express their
thanks on a small brown
paper bag.

in the
Press

https://students.gwu.edu/store
contact resources http://studentsagainsthunger.org/
thegwstore@gmail.com hunger-on-campus/