About the Rutgers–Newark Student Food Pantry, PantryRUN
The pantryRUN is an on-campus food pantry available to students at Rutgers–Newark who are struggling with food insecurity. Food insecurity means that students don’t have enough reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food to maintain good health. At pantryRUN, students can pick up weekly groceries and toiletries, including fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, lean protein, and more. Located in the Paul Robeson Campus Center, the pantry is stocked with in-kind donations from alumni, student groups, and others. pantryRUN also relies on donations to ensure the shelves stay full all year long.
Raptors vs. Raiders Competition Details
On November 10, 1766, William Franklin, the last colonial governor of New Jersey and Benjamin Franklin’s son, signed the charter establishing Queen’s College, the forerunner of Rutgers. In recent years, Rutgers has celebrated this day with a Day of Service. This year we can think of no better way to serve our students than helping to ensure no student goes hungry. Gifts made online between November 10 and November 17 on the respective crowdfunding pages will count toward the competition. The university with the most individual donors by midnight on November 17 will be awarded $1,000 to go toward their food pantry.
Can I drop off in-kind food donations?
Absolutely! For the sake of the competition, however, your food donations will only count if they are dropped off at the below times. Please find the food drive details below.
Contactless Food Drive Details
When: Tuesday, November 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Rutgers University–Newark Alumni Center, 72 Washington St., Newark NJ
Details: Masks must be worn at the time of donation. Food items will be accepted at our contactless drive-thru or donation table.
•For the drive-thru, pull your vehicle into the area surrounded by cones in front of the Alumni Center. Alumni Engagement staff will retrieve items from the trunk.
•For the donation table, please place donated items on the table outside of the entrance Alumni Center and a staff member will collect your items while maintaining a safe distance.
Suggested items for donation are canned fruits and vegetables, canned tuna or salmon, rice, beans, cereal, granola bars, soup, oatmeal, juice, peanut butter, jelly, and personal hygiene products
Stop Student Hunger
Contactless Food Drive Details
When: Tuesday, November 10 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Rutgers University–Newark Alumni Center, 72 Washington St., Newark NJ
Details: Masks must be worn at the time of donation. Food items will be accepted at our contactless drive-thru or donation table.
Today’s college students hunger for more than just knowledge. At Rutgers University, one in three students experience food insecurity. This can mean skipping meals or eating lower quality food that doesn’t provide the nutrients they need to fuel their minds. The resulting hunger can threaten their ability to succeed. Today, you can help put a dent in student hunger by participating in the Raptors vs. Raiders Food Drive Challenge.
The university pantry with the most donors by midnight on November 17 will be awarded $1,000.
Many Rutgers University–Newark students are in high-risk groups for food insecurity, including first-generation students, students of color, and working students. The resulting hunger can threaten their ability to succeed.
Throughout the week, your support can make a difference in the lives of students facing food insecurity at Rutgers–Newark. Your gifts will support the pantryRUN, the on-campus food pantry, which provides access to groceries and toiletries for students in need of a helping hand. Join in to help stop student hunger!
Why are donations necessary?
The pantryRUN relies on donations to serve students who need it most throughout the year. But don’t take it from us.
“I come from a single-parent home, and nutrition has always been a struggle in my life. I have not eaten today yet, but thanks to the pantry now I will.”-Rutgers–Newark student
Essex County, the home to many of our students, has the highest food insecurity rate in New Jersey. Nationwide, there has been a rapid growth in food insecurity as a result of COVID-19. Before COVID-19, 8.7% of New Jersey residents were food insecure. It is projected that over 13.5% of NJ residents will be food insecure due to the pandemic. Food and cash donations make it possible for pantryRUN to help students in need.