Food Assistance & Well-Being Program
The Food Assistance and Well-being Program is an emergency relief program designed to meet the short-term food security needs of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign community, namely current Illinois students. We are a shopping-style pantry, which allows students to choose what they need when visiting. We offer protein, dairy, fresh produce, canned items, grain, and personal care products. Our mission is to ensure the Illinois community has access to nutritious food and key necessities in a welcoming and educational space. We collect demographic data and other information to improve processes and ensure that the program is equitable, inclusive, and accessible while meeting the needs of the diverse student population.
How It Works
Every week, students can choose one of the following three services that best fits their needs and availability. Returning visitors who have already utilized a service for the week will be provided additional community resources that they can access in the meantime.
International students and scholars wanting to utilize these services should first review the public charge page on the ISSS website. If you have questions after reviewing the page, please contact ISSS.
Vist the ARC Food Assistance & Well-Being Program
Location
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).
Before the Pantry Opens
Your must be physically present to hold your place in line. DO NOT Leave your personal belongings unattended. Any item left outside the Instructional Kitchen will be placed in lost and found. We are not responsible for personal belongings.
During Pantry Open Hours
- Present your i-card to the staff upon entry.
- Check-in on the laptop. If this is your first time, create a profile by following the instructions.
- Once your profile is created, you can start shopping!
Schedule a pickup at CRCE Lockers
Pick-up times are 4-6pm every Monday and Wednesday. Hours are subject to change based upon operational needs.
Register Your Account
- Login to PantrySoft Account with your Illinois NetID and password.
- Once you are logged in, complete the Registration Form.
- Only the fields with red asterisks are required.
- If you’d like to utilize the locker pickup service, provide your contact email and phone number to receive pickup notifications.
- Click “SAVE AND EXIT” when you are done.
Schedule a Pick-Up
- Login to your PantrySoft Account
- Schedule a Visit Time: Click the plus icon on the right side of the screen to select your preferred time slots.
- Select Your Items: Click the “plus” icon on each individual item to add them to your cart. Click the minus icon to remove them from your cart.
- Note: As soon as these items are selected, they are reserved from the pantry's current inventory. If no action is taken for 20 minutes, the transaction is cancelled. The exclamation "!" next to a quantity indicates that the maximum amount has been selected.
- Confirm Your Order: Once you have made all of your selections, click on the shopping cart icon on the top right to review your order. Click “Confirm Order” to finalize.
- Note: You can adjust the total quantities from this screen using the plus and minus icons. You can review, but not change, the selected time slot. To pick a new time slot, you must wait 20 minutes for the order to expire, then start a new order.
- Log out: Click the user icon on the top right to see a Logout pop-up. Click Logout to exit.
- Review/Edit/Cancel Your Order: On the order summary screen, you can make changes to your items ordered and appointment time. This screen will be visible upon every login until the visit occurs.
- Note: You have up to 8 hours before your scheduled pickup to cancel/modify your order.
Visit a Wesley Food Pantry
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How to Check In
The Food Assistance & Well-Being Program is staffed by student volunteers from Food Science Human Nutrition who support patrons while developing their community-building skills. We also work closely with faculty to provide additional educational resources. Don't hesitate to ask questions while in the space. We are here to help!
Donate
- Drop off your donations at the member service desk at the ARC
- We accept unopened, unexpired food items and key necessities (e.g. feminine hygiene products and dental hygiene products).
- Use the links below to donate food or contribute funds
- A $20 donation provides at least 20 servings of healthy food
- A $40 donation provides at least 40 servings of healthy food
- A $60 donation provides at least 60 servings of healthy food
- An $80 donation provides at least 80 servings of healthy food
- A $100 donation provides at least 100 servings of healthy food
On the Menu
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!
Volunteer
Interested in helping to support the program? Fill out the Food Assistance & Well-Being Program Volunteer Interest Form. We are accepting volunteers for the academic year 2024-2025.
Resources
- Everybody Eats: A campus-wide initiative to ensure everyone in our Illini community has access to a hot meal and is provided with adequate nutrition.
- Eat. Move. Save.: Learn how to make heathier choices on any budget partnered with the Illinois Extension and UI Health.
- Eastern Illinois Food Mobile Schedule: Mobile food pantries that are designed to increase access to nutritious food for residents in rural and under-served communities.
- School & Collegiate Food Pantries: Food Pantries that are dedicated to students and their immediate families.
- “Where to Find Food” Eastern Illinois Foodbank: An interactive map that shows available food resources in the selected areas.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health.
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC): helps pregnant women, new mothers and young children eat well and stay healthy.
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CampusWell
Explore wellness resources on CampusWell, an interdepartmental website that provides articles and videos about various topics, including food and nutrition!