Food Assistance
Food Assistance
We're here to help!
Cats' Cupboard
OHIO recognizes that some students may not have enough to eat on a daily or weekly basis. The Cats’ Cupboard food pantry provides students with access to fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable food options to help with hunger and offers confidential food support in a judgement-free space.
The Cats’ Cupboard Food Pantry offers an in-person shopping location in Baker University Center 514 and an online shopping feature with the option to pick up custom orders in refrigerated lockers in Alden Library. The food lockers offer a convenient shopping experience with a 24-hour pickup window while tucked away on the 2nd floor of the library, near the Academic Achievement Center.
Pantry Access
All OHIO students, faculty, and staff can use the in-person pantry or food lockers twice per month to receive free groceries. Pantry members can shop in person by appointment only. Appointments are required to shop, an we ask that you arrive only during your scheduled appointment time. This allows us to know how much food to order and how to best staff our pantry.
Cats' Cupboard is a supplemental pantry, meaning it cannot provide all of someone's food each month, but is meant to help you save money and stretch your grocery budget further. Use this tool to find additional nearby food resources.
To use the pantry or food lockers:
- Sign up & make an account using the green button below. Use your OHIO email & PID number.
- Schedule one visit at a time. When you begin scheduling, you will be asked which location you plan to visit- Baker University Center for in-person shopping or Alden Library for food locker pickup.
A few notes about online shopping with food locker pickup:
- If you select the food lockers, you will choose a 24-hour pickup window and begin shopping on the online store to preorder your items.
- Orders will be placed in lockers by 12 noon on the day you select and will have until 12 noon the next day to pick up your order. (Arrive any time during Alden Library's open hours.)
- You will receive an email with a QR code to scan to open your locker.
- Lockers are on the 2nd floor of Alden Library, near the Academic Achievement Center.
A few notes about in-person shopping:
- For in-person appointments, arrive at the pantry (Baker 514) during your allotted appointment time.
- Bring your own bags and return any egg carts you have.
- When you arrive for your scheduled visit, show your OHIO ID to the pantry worker who will check you in and explain the shopping process.
- Abide by the item limits indicated beside each item so we have enough food for all our members.
Hours
The Cats' Cupboard pantry operates by appointment. Members can shop in person during their scheduled appointment time twice per month or complete online orders to pick up in Alden Library's refrigerated food lockers during a selected 24-hour period.
Contact
For questions about the pantry, email foodpantry@ohio.edu.
Make a Donation
Donations can be dropped off on the 2nd floor of Baker University Center at the donation station.
Donations are always needed. Please adhere to our donation guidelines:
- All items must have labels
- All items must be sealed
- No homemade goods, including baked goods and home-canned items
- Expired items will not be accepted; check the expiration dates of all items that you plan to donate
Monetary Donations
You can also purchase food for the pantry through Amazon, using our Amazon Food Pantry Needs list.
To make a monetary donation to Cats’ Cupboard, visit the giving page:
Employees can also give through Payroll Deduction by selecting the Division of Student Affairs Food Pantry Support Fund
A donation of $25 provides one student with a three-day supply of emergency food. Seventy-five dollars feeds one student and their two children with a three-day supply of emergency food.
Most-Needed Items
- We cannot accept frozen or refrigerated items, all donations must be shelf-stable.
- Items in ALL CAPS are the highest-need items
Food Items
- CANNED PROTEIN (Tuna, Chicken, Etc.)
- RAMEN
- PASTA
- PASTA SAUCE
- CANNED BEANS
- NUT BUTTER
- CANNED FRUIT
- Baking Mixes
- Dry Beans
- Ready Meals (shelf-stable only)
- Canned pasta, mac and cheese or rice cups, etc.
- Snacks
- Granola Bars
- Jellies and Jams
- Microwave Rice
- Canned Vegetables
- Oatmeal Packets & Cups
- Cereal
Personal Care Items
- Shampoo & conditioner
- Single toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Toilet paper
- Laundry Detergent
- Dish Soap & Hand Soap
- Can Openers
- Safety Razors
- Lotion
- Menstrual Products
- Facial Tissues
SNAP Benefits
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps) provides funds to help eligible individuals purchase food at grocery stores. Ohio SNAP benefits can provide up to $281 or more per month on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card (used like a debit card) that can be spent on groceries.
Learn More About SNAP BenefitsCheck SNAP Eligibility & Apply
If you/your family are applying for SNAP benefits and need a Student Verification form completed, please send the form to Registrar Services (registration@ohio.edu).
Jefferson Marketplace is a SNAP/EBT retailer and carries many eligible items.
Contact
If you have questions about the SNAP program or application process, contact Basic Needs Program at foodpantry@ohio.edu.
Food Pantries
Cats' Cupboard Food Pantry (Athens Campus)
The Cats' Cupboard Food Pantry is located in Baker University Center (Room 514) and provides students access to fresh, frozen and shelf-stable food options. Cats' Cupboard offers students to pick up free food/groceries up to twice a month by appointment.
How to Find Nearby Food Resources
Find nearby food resources including food pantries and food banks using your zip code by using FreshTrack.
FreshTrack - Nearby Food Resources
Find free or reduced-cost resources, including food near you with findhelp.
Meal Bank
The Meal Bank program is a way for students to share meals from a campus meal plan with fellow students experiencing hunger. Culinary Services facilitates a donation period to collect meal donations from students and then distributes them directly to Meal Bank users’ OHIO ID cards for use in campus dining venues.
To access meals from the Meal Bank, sign up to be a member of the Cats’ Cupboard Food Pantry. When we have donated swipes once per semester, we will reach out to pantry members to see who is interested in being considered.
Thanks to Culinary Services for making this program possible.
Donate Meals
Athens campus students who are on a Traditional, Flex, or Block Meal Plan can donate up to three meals during a designated period each semester. Cashiers will be ready to process your shared meals at The District on West Green and Nelson Court during that timeframe.
Contact
If you have questions about the Meal Bank program or application process, contact the Basic Needs Office at foodpantry@ohio.edu.