What is a community pantry?

A community pantry is a place where people can both leave donations and pick up food to take home. There are examples of pantries supporting food security on campuses across North America.

Why do we need a pantry at the U of A?

Campus Food Bank aims to provide a range of food education and food access options to the U of A community we serve. Currently, our supplementary grocery program, which provides about one week of groceries to clients, is experiencing a sharp peak in demand and appointments are booked for three to four weeks out. A community pantry allows people who just need help finding dinner or tomorrow’s meals to drop by and pick up a few options.

How does the pantry operate?

The pantry is accessible by ONEcard, anytime Rutherford Library is open. You do not need to request extra card access. The pantry is entirely dependent on community donations, which can be dropped off anytime. People needing some food to take home can stop and take a few items anytime. We ask that people limit their shopping to about five items per person in their household, to ensure that donations can support as many people as possible. Campus Food Bank volunteers monitor the space throughout the week for cleanliness, food safety, and other maintenance.