FAQ

Looking for answers to your questions? Check out our FAQ list.

Where does your funding come from?

The Panther Pantry is currently funded through donations and the UNI Student Services fee.

What is the purpose of the pantry?

The purpose of the Panther Pantry is to serve students that are impacted by food insecurity. The pantry offers food and necessity items to students that are enrolled at the university.

What is food insecurity?

Food insecurity refers to the USDA's measure of lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active healthy life. Food-insecure households are not necessarily food insecure all of the time. It may reflect a household's need to make trade-offs between important basic needs, such as housing , medical bills, and purchasing nutritionally adequate foods (Feeding America, 2018).

How does someone go about receiving food?

During the hours of operation, any UNI student can stop by the Panther Pantry (located in the lower level of Maucker Union) and take whatever they may need. There is no limit to the amount of food an individual can take. You must fill out an intake form once a year to use the pantry.

What if I need items that the pantry doesn't carry?

If you are in need of an item that is not at the pantry please let us know. We are always open to suggestions of what to carry. A lot of the products on our shelves have been donated so we don't have a lot of control over this, however we can add it to the list of items to request.

Do you maintain student confidentiality?

We ask that everyone that utilizes the pantry space keep the identities of those utilizing the service confidential. We will do our best to maintain student confidentiality when concerns are expressed to our student volunteers and staff, however there may be times that a referral to another student support service may need to be made. If you have questions regarding confidentiality please the pantry at pantherpantry@uni.edu.

How can I get involved with the Panther Pantry?

If you are a student and wish to be a part of the pantry there are two options, you can apply to be on the executive team of the pantry. Selection typically occurs during the spring semester. The second option is to volunteer with the pantry. More information can be found under the "Volunteers" tab of this website.

FAQ

Additional information regarding food insecurity on college campuses: