It is our mission to ensure that the Illinois community has access to nutritious food and key necessities in a welcoming and educational space. We collect demographic information and a variety of other data to improve processes and ensure that it is equitable, inclusive and accessible to meet the needs of the diverse Illinois student population.
About
The Food Assistance & Well-Being Program is a shopping style pantry. Food is set up on shelves by food groups. Shoppers walk through the space and select food according to pantry guidelines. This model allows shoppers to handle food, choose items, and look at the labels as if they were shopping in a store. Student volunteers are available to answer questions and provide resources. The Food Assistance & Well-Being Program is located in the rear of the ARC Instructional Kitchen (entrance on the concourse level, next to the indoor climbing wall).
The program is focused on the development of students in a supportive and inclusive space. It is staffed by student volunteers from Food Science Human Nutrition who provide food support while developing their community building skills. We also work closely with faculty to provide educational resources to pantry shoppers.
Hours
All hours of operation, including distribution hours for the Food Assistance and Well-Being program can be found on the Hours of Operation page.
COVID-19 Precautions
- Face masks are no longer required for patrons and volunteers.
- Tables, chairs, and frequently touched items are wiped down before and after distribution hours.
- Patrons are required to maintain six feet distance from other patrons.
- Volunteers exhibiting symptoms including but not limited to fever, cough, and shortness of breath are not allowed to work.
- Volunteers are required to be COVID-19 tested per University Guidelines.
Donate
Instructions
- Use the links below to donate food or contribute funds
- For food donations, fill out the form and we will follow up with you to confirm a drop off date/time.
How Your Donation Helps
- $12/month supports one student food pick-up per month
- $25 donation provides a grocery pick-up for 2 students
- $50 donation provides a grocery pick-up for 4 students
- $100 donation provides a grocery pick-up for 8 students
- $250 donation helps feed 25 students for a week
- $500 donation helps feed 50 students for a week
Host a Food Drive
Groups, organizations, and RSOs interested in partnering with the Food Assistance and Well-Being Program can host their own virtual or drop-box food drive! To get started, view the “How to Host a Food Drive” PDF instructions and then fill out the request form. If approved, we will reach out with more details!
Recipes
Volunteer
Interested in helping to support the program? Fill out the Food Assistance & Well-Being Program Volunteer Interest Form for Summer and Fall 2023. We have a full volunteer staff for Spring 2023.
Resources
Nutrition
- Budget Friendly Recipes
CampusWell
Explore wellness resources on CampusWell, an interdepartmental website that provides articles and videos about various topics, including food and nutrition!