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No Student Should Go Hungry!

2 out of 5 students worry about food graphic

Maybe you had to pay for an expensive repair to your car...

or maybe you got sick and missed several shifts at work...

or maybe your rent just jumped up.

Whatever the reason, funds are low and you don't know what you are going to do for food. Everyone needs help some time.

At USF, we understand that life happens. While financial difficulties may present challenges for students, access to food should never be one of them...ever!

Unfortunately, 2 in 5 USF students are food insecure and are worried about how they will afford their next meal, according to campus research. That's why each USF campus has a food pantry to provide groceries and hygiene products to any current student who needs it -- confidentially and regardless of their situation.  

You don't have to skip meals, eat inadequate portions or poor quality foods. Use the links below to access the resources USF (and our community) offers to alleviate student hunger.

Food Pantries

There are no qualifications or criteria for USF students to get groceries and hygiene products once, twice or many times from our campus pantries. Check out the pantry on your campus for easy and confidential access to food.

SLC Bldg pic

St. Petersburg campusOrder online and pick up in SLC 1300A in the Student Life Center; access the pantry from inside the building or via their exterior door.

SM building

Sarasota-Manatee campus 
Order online and arrange delivery on campus, or access the pantry by visiting SMC C144 through the Student Success Lounge in the main building.

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Tampa campus 
Order online or visit the pantry in SVC0002 in the Student Services Bldg. basement (enter building next to Admissions and take hallway to elevator lobby; then take elevator/stairs to basement).

other Campus support resources

Consider contacting these USF offices for guidance when you (or your friend) is exeriencing food insecurity – they can help.

Community Resources

defining food insecurity

What is 'food insecurity'?
Food insecurity is defined as “not having reliable access to food because of your financial situation.” It’s evaluated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with questions like: 

  • Were you very hungry but didn’t eat because there wasn’t enough money for food?
  • Did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn’t enough money for food?
  • Have you ever worried whether your food would run out before you got money to buy more? 

How common is food insecurity?
National research, including that conducted by the Temple University Hope Center for College, Community and Justice, indicates that 29% of four-year college students are food insecure (39% of two-year college students) – meaning virtually 1 in 3 students nationally are food insecure.  

Our own research into this issue reveals that these statistics hold true on USF's campuses.

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