Panther Pantry

In Spring 2018, a task force found that 16% of UNI students faced food insecurity, leading to the creation of the Panther Pantry. The pantry is operated by 10-12 student volunteers each semester and funded through donations, and housed in the Office of Student Involvement in Maucker Union.

The Panther Pantry’s goal is to ensure all UNI students have access to basic food and necessities, recognizing that students need food security to succeed academically. Food insecurity according to the USDA refers to the lack of consistent access to enough food for a healthy life, often due to trade-offs between housing, medical bills, tuition, or other school expenses.

The pantry partners with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Sam’s Club, Creekside Gardens, Kwik Star, Starbucks and Crumbl Cookie to provide food and other necessities to UNI students.

As demand grows, your support through monetary donations will help us purchase meal cards, addressing food insecurity on campus.