UAF Food Pantry Now Open on Sundays

By Mars Brennan

The Office of Sustainability’s Food Pantry is now open on Sundays, along with extended hours throughout the week. They are open Wednesdays from 2pm-7pm., Thursdays from 1pm-3 pm, and Sundays from 2pm-4 pm. The extended hours make the Food Pantry more accessible to students who have long schedules during the week.

The Food Pantry is inclusive for all students and they can get one bag a week full of necessities. This may include canned protein, beans, vegetables, fruits, rice, snacks, period products, soap, can openers, toothbrushes, etc. Any student can come up during walk-up hours and get either a pre-made bag or a bag full of items from designated categories they select personally. If a student needs to have a pre-made bag put together for pick-up, they can submit a bag request online through uaf.edu/sustainability and it will be prepared and left for pickup at the Wood Center Front Desk. 

The Food Pantry is stocked and made possible by donations of shelf-stable goods and monetary donations to purchase additional items, but the Food Pantry is always in need of canned and non-perishable food such as tuna, pasta, vegetables, peanut butter, granola bars, pasta sauce, fruit and soup. Please make sure the food is not opened or expired and is shelf-stable (no fresh produce or refrigerated items). Food drives are run all throughout the school year to help keep the pantry stocked. Also, many bins are located around campus including by the Wood Center Front Desk, the Moore-Bartlett-Skarland dorms, the Cutler Apartments, the Murie, Butrovich, and Reichardt buildings, the Academic Advising Center, and by our Food Pantry.

The Food Pantry is a judgment free zone, and can be utilized by any student in need and for any reason. The only requirement is to be a UAF student. The Wood Center Food Pantry was established to help students in need, and the new weekend walk-up hours will help the program be more accessible to all students on campus.