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.
Husker Pantry, located on the 1st floor of the University Health Center (room 123), provides a one-stop location to assist students. By simply presenting their NCard, students can receive food and hygiene items for free. The pantry does not provides bags, so students should bring a bag or their backpack to take home their items. Information about community resources for housing and other food assistance programs also are available.
Visit
How to find the pantry
We’re located on the first floor of the University Health Center in room 123. It's easiest to find us from the north side of the Health Center (the parking lot side). Enter the second from the West door off of the parking lot and we are just down the hall on the left side, next to Big Red Resilience & Well-Being.
How to use the pantry
Any current student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who is in need can stop by Husker Pantry to pick up free food and hygiene items and/or to get help connecting to university and community resources related to food and shelter insecurity.
Just remember to bring your NCard so we can verify that you’re a current Nebraska student. Please also bring a bag or backpack to take home your items as we no longer provide bags or boxes.
What does food and shelter insecurity look like? If you can identify with any of the following, please come use the pantry!
- 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
Hours
| DAY | TIME |
|---|---|
| Mondays | CLOSED |
| Tuesdays | CLOSED |
| Wednesdays | CLOSED |
| Thursdays | CLOSED |
| Fridays | CLOSED |
Volunteer
We are no longer accepting applications for new volunteers for the Fall 2020 semester. Applications closed March 6th. Applications will open back up in the fall.
Volunteer Commitments
- Work at least one, one-hour shift per week staffing the pantry and welcoming students (same day/time each week)
- Actively participate as a member of the Pantry Student Advisory Board that meets once a month during the school year
- Actively participate as a member of a sub-committee of the Student Advisory Board
- 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
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.
If you'd like to donate via cash or check, please drop it off at the pantry or mail to:
Husker Pantry
c/o Megan Patel
127C HCCN (University Health Center)
Lincoln, NE 68588-0628
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 FEBRUARY IS RICE
Food
- Applesauce
- Canned beans (refried & garbanzo)
- Canned chili
- Canned fruit/fruit cups
- 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
- Baby wipes
- Baby food (no glass jars please)
- Diapers
- Dish soap
- Hand soap
- Laundry detergent and fabric softener
- Manual can openers
- Paper towels
- Plastic baggies
- Plastic utensils
- School supplies
- Tissues
Please know that 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
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 130 (Husker Hub)
Room 205 (CYAF)
Outside of husker hub on 1st floor there's an elevator to the left. Take it 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)
Nebraska Hall
Room 310
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.
Neihardt
Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid
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.
East Campus
Hardin Hall
In the lobby
Barkley Center
Dept. of Special Edu. and Comm. Disorders
Leverton Hall
Room 110 (Dept. of Nutrition and Health Sciences)
Walk into the front doors that are facing the loop. Walk straight and take a left into the room 110 and the bin is on the floor to the left as you walk into the room.
Chase Hall
Biological Systems Engineering
Second floor breakroom
If you'd like a permanent donation bin for your campus building, let us know!
Our Staff
If you have questions, we're happy to assist you. Feel free to stop by the pantry, 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
Katie Petersen, Graduate Assistant
Volunteer Student Advisory Board
Erin Alexander
Evie Anderson
Jill Belgen
Kate Berzonsky
Julia Curtis
Corrie Day
Karin Ellefson
Sophia Genova
Kailynn Jensen
Caroline Kowalski
Jacqueline Manchester
Divine Mbabazi
Callie McCright
Bitsy Oberle
Alex Otto
Jaden Roe
Troy Scheer
Brooke Schmidt
Sammi Surber