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 funded by donations, operated by 10-12 student volunteers each semester and housed in the Office of Student Involvement in Maucker Union for convenient student access.

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. According to the USDA, food insecurity 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 monetary gifts will help us purchase meal cards for Panthers in need, addressing food insecurity on campus. 💜🍎