About the Campus Cupboard

UA Main Campus, Simmons Hall

The Campus Cupboard program was created to support a segment of the student body that is food insecure and could make use of a campus food pantry.

Current Services

Two Pantry Locations
- Main Campus, Simmons Hall
- Wayne Campus, Main Classroom Building, Upper D-Wing
Six Grab-n-Go Locations
Two Monthly Large-Scale Food Distributions
50+ Menstrual Dispensers, 19 Buildings

How we started

The Campus Cupboard program was created from data collected at UA and national college student trends, that recognized a segment of students that were food insecure and could benefit from a campus food pantry.

For national data on food insecurity and basic needs for college students, please visit Hope4College.com.

Our history

2019

ZipAssist branded the Campus Cupboard program and opened a network of “Grab and Go” food pantries in three different buildings (Simmons Hall and Polsky Building) across the UA Main Campus.
In December, due to increased need, the University converted a former office space into a food pantry.

2020

UA’s Wayne [branch] campus in Orville, Ohio, was named a satellite location for the Campus Cupboard.
In June, the Campus Cupboard partnered with The Salvation Army to organize a monthly hot meal/food distribution on campus.
In October, through a grant and collaboration with Undergraduate Student Government, the Menstrual Poverty program started in three buildings, nine restrooms.

2021

In January, two new buildings (Student Union and Bierce Library) were added to the network of “Grab and Gos.”
In August, the Campus Cupboard now offers walk-in hours with evening hours in addition to the grocery pick up service.
In August the Menstrual Program expanded to include twelve Aunt Flow dispensers in three different buildings (Simmons Hall, Student Union and Student Recreation Center).

2022

In May, the Roo-Store program was born as a sustainability effort with Residence Life and Housing and to meet student’s homeware and small furnishing needs.
In May, the Campus Community Garden program started with the goal to grow produce to meet the increased need for fresh produce in the pantry and to provide a community space to learn and relax.
In June, the Campus Cupboard began a collaboration with the Akron Canton Food Bank to host a monthly pop-up pantry on campus bringing the total monthly distributions on campus to two, one every other week.
In August, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore became a partner with UA’s Roo-Store program to offer a pop-up shopping event on campus and offer an all-year-round discount to students, faculty, and staff.
In August, menstrual products were added to the items stocked in all four grab-n-gos.
In September, the Professional Clothing Collab program held its first pop up shopping event thanks to partner businesses Clearstead: Fiduciary Investment Advisors, Oswald Financial, and McCarthy, Lebit, Crystal & Liffman Co, LPA.
In December, two new buildings (Folk Hall and School of Law) were added to th network of “Grab and Gos” to increase food access for students with more rigid course schedules.
In December, the Menstrual Poverty program expanded to include Folk Hall's restrooms.

2023

In January, the Menstrual Program expanded product access to all women's restrooms on the main floor of all seven residence halls.
In April, the Campus Cupboard integrated the PantrySoft software system for walk in visits, online ordering and inventory management.
In May, the Campus Community Garden now has a Free Little Library and bird houses.
In June, the Campus Community Garden added more tires, two raised bed and another arched entry point.
In October, the Menstrual Program added 26 Aunt Flow Dispensers and expanded to access seven academic buildings.