CMU Student Food Pantry: Ensuring Food Security for Academic Success
The CMU Student Food Pantry is dedicated to ensuring that no student at Central Michigan University faces hunger as a barrier to their academic success or overall well-being. By providing free food distributions, the pantry helps students stay focused and well-nourished. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the CMU Student Food Pantry, its resources, and how it supports students in need.
Availability and Purpose
The Student Food Pantry is available to any currently enrolled CMU student who needs supplemental food assistance. Recognizing the diverse needs of students, the pantry has expanded its offerings to include non-food items as well. The goal is to provide a comprehensive resource that addresses various student needs.
Location and Accessibility
The CMU Student Food Pantry is conveniently located near the North Campus Success Center, specifically under the Robinson Residential Restaurant. This accessible location ensures that students can easily access the resources they need. At the Residence on Fifth Avenue (4700 Fifth Avenue).
Eligibility and Usage
All currently enrolled CMU students are eligible to use the Student Food Pantry, regardless of their financial situation. There are no financial eligibility requirements. The pantry serves as a resource for any student in need, allowing them to focus on their academic pursuits and other important aspects of university life. Students frequently use the Pantry weekly to make ends meet, during breaks when they aren't working, or if they were sick and missed a few days at work one week, and for a variety of other reasons.
Resources Offered
The CMU Pantry is committed to reducing hunger among students by providing nutritious food at no cost. The CMU Pantry is a free, supplemental food resource open to all undergraduate and graduate students. Shoppers are able to visit the Pantry once a week.
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Food Items
The Pantry provides shoppers access to fresh fruits and vegetables based on seasonal availability. New additions to the Pantry include access to frozen produce such as meats, fruits, and vegetables and frozen ready-to-eat meals based on availability. Additionally, there is a consistent stock of non-perishables including staple items such as pasta, rice, peanut butter, and canned goods such as beans, meats, fruits, vegetables and soups.
The Pantry offers a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables based on seasonal availability. The “Best By” date is not an expiration date. Many foods are safe to consume for far longer than the "Best By" date, sometimes for an additional two years! If you’d like to reduce food waste in your own home and/or have selected items at the CMU Pantry that are past their "Best By" date, refer to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s Shelf Life Guide to determine it's shelf life.
Personal and Baby Care Items
The CMU Pantry tries to maintain a supply of toiletry and household items, noting that available items vary week to week.
We offer our shoppers some key personal care items and cleaning supplies, including toothpaste, soap, and deodorant.
The Pantry has a supply of some baby care items, including infant formula, jars of baby food, diapers, baby wipes, diaper rash ointment, and diaper rash cream. In order to keep the CMU Pantry stocked with the most needed family care items, we would find it useful for families to let us know of their needs in advance.
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Support for Students with Dependents
The CMU Pantry is here to support all CMU students and their dependents, including spouses, partners and children.
How to Access the Pantry
All CMU students are required to bring their CMU ID card to gain entry to Residence on Fifth by showcasing it to the front desk staff. (Only students residing in Residence on Fifth are able to swipe into the building). All students are encouraged to bring multiple reusable bags to help carry any items from the Pantry.
Complete the “Pantry Shopping Form.” This form must be completed every time you visit the Pantry. Once you have submitted the form, the submission page will direct you to the Pantry Shopping Time Calendar, where you will pick your day and time to shop. Please be punctual when you visit the Pantry; shoppers who arrive outside of their reservation time may be asked to wait for space to open up before they are permitted to shop in the Pantry. Visit the Pantry during your chosen timeslot to pick up your items.
Shoppers must complete the Pantry Shopping Form in TartanConnect.
How to Support the Pantry
Food and care item donations for the Student Food Pantry can be dropped off at the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, located in the Bovee University Center, room 106.
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The CMU Pantry gladly accepts donations to keep the Pantry stocked with a healthy variety of food for our student shoppers. In addition to non-perishables, donations of hygiene products and cleaning supplies are also appreciated.
Bring your items to the Pantry and drop them off. If the Pantry is closed when you arrive, you can leave your items in the donation cart outside of the Pantry doors.
Purchasing food for the pantry costs about 30 cents a pound and includes meat, produce, bread, and dairy products; therefore, every dollar donated makes a significant impact.
Referring a Student
Please complete the referral form on the Student Food Pantry Engage Central page and we'll reach out directly to the student with information about resources available at CMU and in the community.
Additional Resources for Students
Health and Wellness
Students in need of health care can find resources at CMU Student Health Services. On-campus clinics are staffed with board-certified health care professionals who can provide the treatment you need.
Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD)
CMDHD provides the most affordable STI testing services and health care in the Mt. Pleasant area.
Enhancements Through Technology
Five months after relocating to Robinson Hall, the Central Michigan University Student Food Pantry is receiving a major technology upgrade. Beginning Tuesday, October 14, the pantry will run on a brand-new software system. PantrySOFT will enhance every aspect of the pantry’s services, from student access to volunteer workflow.
Students can create a profile that includes details such as dietary restrictions, accessibility needs and the number of dependents - all information that helps the pantry better serve their needs. If we don’t have what they need, they shouldn’t have to wait to find that out.”
Students and volunteers will both benefit from a much more efficient check-in and check-out process, which is an area where the food pantry has historically faced a bottleneck.“This will help us breeze right through that,” Dattilo said.
Other key highlights include improved inventory management, detailed usage statistics and volunteer tracking - all things that will allow the pantry to be more intentional in how it serves its users and shares its success with donors and the community.“Nothing that the pantry does would be possible without donors, and this software is included in that,” Dattilo said. “This is being funded by donors and is going to significantly improve both the student-user experience as well as the staff and volunteer experience.”
The Pantry will be closed on Thursday, October 10 and Monday, October 13 to train staff and update online inventory ahead of the October 14 launch.
Directions to the Pantry
From the Cohon Center, travel down Morewood Avenue and turn left on Fifth Avenue. At the intersection of Neville Street and Fifth Avenue, The Residence on Fifth will be on your left. Alternately, a cut through at the back of the Tepper parking lot, which passes next to the WQED building, gets you to Fifth Avenue.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C.
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