Food and shelter insecurities are an unfortunate reality for students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and nationwide.
Nearly 1 in 3 students on our campus worries about not having enough food until they get money to buy more.
If you can identify with any of the following statements, Husker Pantry can assist and help you.
- You don't have a permanent place to live and you're couch surfing
- You don't have a permanent place to live and live at your workplace or on the street
- You live on-campus during the school year, but you're homeless during breaks and the summer
- You are at risk of eviction from your home
- You can't afford to buy healthy food to eat
- You can't afford food at the end of the month when you're waiting for your next paycheck
- You can only afford to spend a very small amount of money each week on food
- You skip meals or eat snacks for meals because you can't afford more
- You have to choose between paying bills and buying enough food
How to use the Pantry
NOTE: We returned to in-person shopping on May 12, 2021. We no longer offer online ordering or curbside pick up.
Husker Pantry provides one-stop locations to assist UNL students with free food and hygiene items, and to connect with university and community resources related to food and shelter insecurity. Any current student in need can utilize the Pantry's services.
What to bring when you visit a pantry location:
- Your NCard as verification you are a currently-enrolled Nebraska student
- A bag, backpack, or box to carry your items to your residence. The Pantry does not provide bags or boxes.
Locations
City Campus- Fall 2021 Hours
123 University Health Center
(550 N 19th Street)
| Mondays | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesdays | 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
| Wednesdays | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
| Thursdays | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Fridays | 12 to 4 p.m. |
East Campus
East Campus Visitors Center, Rm. 108B
(1625 Arbor Drive)
| Monday, Sept 27 | 4 to 7 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, Sept. 28 | 4 to 7 p.m. |
| Wednesday, September 29 | 4 to 7 p.m. |
| Thursday, September 23 | 4 to 6 p.m. |
| Friday, September 24 | 4 to 6 p.m. |
Donate
It’s easy to help support husker students! You can support students in the following ways:
Amazon Wish List
Purchase some items off of our Amazon wish list! They will be shipped directly to the pantry.
Monetary Donations
Gifts also can be made to the University of Nebraska Foundation, fund #01140700. Online gifts can be made via credit or debit card, and an electronic donation receipt will be emailed to you. Memorial gifts can also be made through the Foundation website.
Donate Items
You can drop off donations at the donation bins around campus
Below is the list of items that we stock at the pantry. Items in bold are more needed at this time.
OUR MOST WANTED ITEM FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IS RICE
Food
- Applesauce
- Canned beans
- Canned fruit
- Canned meats (ex: chicken)
- Canned vegetables
- Cereal
- Condiments (ex: ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, etc.)
- Crackers/Chips
- Drinks (ex: juice, tea, etc.)
- Gluten-free items
- Granola/protein bars
- Instant potatoes
- Jelly/jam
- Mac & cheese
- Microwaveable oatmeal
- Nuts
- Pancake/waffle mix and syrup
- Pantry staples (ex: flour, sugar, oil, baking powder/soda, salt & pepper)
- Pasta
- Pasta sauce
- Peanut butter
- Rice
- Spices and seasonings
- Soup
- Sugar-free items
- Trail/snack mix
- Tuna
Hygiene
- Body Lotion
- Body Wash
- Conditioner
- Deodorant
- Face wash
- First aid items (ex: bandaids)
- Hair accessories (ex: hair ties, hair gel, etc.)
- Makeup remover/face wipes
- Period products (tampons & pads)
- Razors
- Shampoo
- Shaving cream
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
Other
- Cleaning supplies
- Disinfectant wipes
- Dish soap
- Hand soap
- Laundry detergent and fabric softener
- Manual can openers
- Paper towels
- School supplies (notebooks and sticky notes)
- Tissues
We cannot accept opened/used items; rusty, damaged or dented cans; expired food; homemade food; home canned food; alcohol; energy drinks; food with no label; or food that requires refrigeration or freezing. We also do not accept pet food or clothing.
Are you looking to partner on an event?
We’re fortunate to have many philanthropic student organizations and departments at the university. If you would like to partner on an event or would like to hold a food drive for the pantry, please contact us so we can assist you in your donation efforts.
We can create a custom flier for your event, help you promote it, and provide you with a list of our current needs. Just email us at pantry@unl.edu or give us a call at (402) 472-8975.
Donation Bin Locations
If you'd like a permanent donation bin for your campus building, let us know!
East Campus
East Campus Visitors Center
Right outside Husker Pantry East Campus, room 108B
East Union
Right inside the main entrance, next to the navigation kiosk
Dinsdale Family Learning Commons (formerly C.Y. Thompson Library)
Go through the main doors and to the right. The bin is on a small table against the wall.
East Campus Rec and Wellness Center
Go inside the main entrance, and turn immediately to the right.
Hardin Hall
Walk in the main doors and go to the right. The bin should be in the open area on the right side.
Barkley Center
Room 302
Leverton Hall
Room 110 (Dept. of Nutrition and Health Sciences)
Enter via the building's main entrance (East side) and continue straight ahead to the Administration Office (Room 110). The bin is on the floor to the right as you enter the office.
Chase Hall
Biological Systems Engineering
1st floor front hallway study area (across from the computer lab)
Innovation Campus
Food Innovation Center
Once inside the building, go up the stairs in front of you and go down the hall. Take the elevator on the right to the second floor. Turn right out of the elevator and the bin is outside of the office.
City Campus
University Health Center
Room 127, Outside of Big Red Resilience & Well-Being
Enter the second door from the West off of the North parking lot
Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center
To the left of the front desk on the 1st floor
Nebraska Union
Next to the welcome desk on the North side of the 1st floor
Campus Recreation
Walk in the main doors and turn left before you reach the counter and go through the double glass doors and it should be to the right as you walk in.
Louise Pound Hall
Room 205 (CYAF)
Take the elevator to the second floor and take a left on the hallway towards department of management. Take a left and look to the right outside of actuarial science.
Room 305 (Arts & Sciences Louise Pound Hall Co-Op)
Love Library South
In the lobby near room 127
Walk in and turn left down the hallway. Look to the left by the computers in the hallway and the bin should be right next to that.
Andrews Hall
Room 201 (Department of English)
Walk in and turn left down the hallway. Look to the left by the computers in the hallway and the bin should be right next to that.
Richards Hall
Outside of room 17 near the vending machines
Locate doors that look out at the parking lot and stadium. Walk down the ramp and look to the left.
Canfield Administration Building
Husker Hub
Prem S. Paul Research Center at Whittier School
Park in the guest parking. Walk towards a glass doors on surface level take the side door into the building. Walk through the double doors. Walk straight down the hallway and look to your right
Business Services Complex
Walk in the 1700 Y Street door walk to the counter and look behind the counter on the floor to the right.
Volunteer
Volunteer Commitments
- Work at least one, one-hour shift per week staffing the pantry and welcoming students
- Actively participate as a member of the Pantry Student Advisory Board that meets once a month during the school year
- Speak to at least one group per semester about the pantry
- Volunteer for at least two other pantry events during the semester, which may include:
- Collecting donations from the donation bins around campus
- Helping to market the pantry, reaching out to campus and community organizations to create awareness, staffing booths at involvement fairs, etc.
- Soliciting donations from university and community groups and helping to coordinate food drives
- Representing the pantry at events and picking up donations from food drives
Our Staff
If you have questions, we're happy to assist you. Give us a call at 402-472-8975 or email us at pantry@unl.edu.
Megan Patel, Program Coordinator
meganpatel@unl.edu
402-472-9093
Jamil Funnah, Graduate Assistant
Volunteer Student Advisory Board
Samar Al Foory
Megan Appelt
Jill Belgen
Kate Berzonsky
Megan Cook
Julia Curtis
Olivia Eno
Mackenzie Fugitt
Kailynn Jensen
Divine Mbabazi
Andie Mikuls
Layla Montemayor
Laura Perez-Villagomez
Jaden Roe
Madesyn Ronquillio
Troy Scheer
Christie Seyl
Simran Shah
Colleen Sherman
Bri Speakar
Haley Szymczak