Spartan Food Pantry

The Spartan Food Pantry is a walk-in, full-service, staffed, food assistance program offering non-perishable goods, fresh produce, refrigerated items to eligible 学生.

Volunteer info in 常见问题解答s

Much of our food provided is donated in partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. 查看我们的 donation guidelines for ways to support us.

Spring 2024 operational hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 am - 5:00 pm.

**Spring Break Schedule
April 1: Closed
April 2-5: Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

地点:

Diaz Compean Student Union (exterior entrance across from Engineering Rotunda). 

Spring 2024 Eligibility:

• Student must complete intake form and be approved to use. 
• Currently enrolled in Spring 2024 courses.
• Currently experiencing hunger/food insecurity.
• Must have an annual income of $34,263* or less (no documentation required)
• Must bring your Tower ID & reusable bag(s) every time you visit the 储藏室. If you do not have your Tower ID you should inform the Bursar's Office you need it to access the 储藏室.

How Spartan Food Pantry Works 

Step 1: Check In

• Complete the Spartan Food Pantry Intake & Agreement Form. This must be completed 之前 the first visit of each academic year.  

• Check in (staff scan your 菠菜网lol正规平台 Tower ID card verifying you are currently enrolled). Staff will ask and record your name, address, family size, first per month, if it's a repeat visit. (Some questions are for 美国农业部 reporting purposes).

Step 2: Shop

• Grab a basket and shop for items within our z一个s. All items are based on availability. We'll let you know if there are any limits per z一个 on that day.
  • Fresh Produce Z一个
  • Dry Goods Z一个
  • 很酷的区
  • 化妆品 & 更多的区域
• For health reasons, only touch what you will take.
• Some high-demand items have quantity limits so we can ensure all 学生 get an opportunity 选择. Some grant-purchased items are limited to the eligible student (not family 使用). Always ask if you need more of any item, re成员ing you can return each calendar 周.

Step 3: Check Out

• Bring basket back to counter to check out with staff
• Bag items (in re-usable bag you've brought).

We highly encourage 学生 to ask a staff 成员 or look online if they don't know how to prepare a food. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• How can I volunteer?

  • Volunteer positions help keep our 储藏室 running by assisting with tasks such as stocking/inventory management, cleaning, student check-in/out, compost trips, etc. Volunteers can only sign up for 一个 shift per day. Please note that due to our small size, we are not able to accomodate large group volunteering. However, we encourage groups to consider volunteering at Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, which provides the majority of our food and always needs volunteers!

    1) It's easy to View Opportunities & 报名 using a Google/gmail account. Use the Volunteer Selection link to find a volunteer spot that you can fulfill. Clicking SAVE will reserve your spot and place it on your Google calendar automatically.

    That is your confirmation; we do not send additional confirmations or reminders. We anticipate seeing you at the time/date you select.

    2) Complete our Volunteer Waiver Agreement online as soon as you sign up. The waiver is good f或者是 entire year.

    3) Watch this Volunteer Orientation Video 之前 arriving.

     

    Volunteers must be able and willing to:
    •Be in good health the day of their shifts  
    •Stay home if you feel OR think you may be sick. 
    •Wear pants, closed toe shoes; appropriate and clean attire
    •Be able to wear latex gloves
    •Control longer hair; If hair is shoulder length or longer, hair must be in a ponytail  
    •Ability to lift, move and/ or carry up to 50 pounds; push 100 pounds on a cart
    •Follow provided food and personal safety guidelines
    •Adhere to privacy and confidentiality guidelines while embodying a socially just environment for student participants to feel welcome
    •Volunteer f或者是 full shift
    

    •Be prepared for current outdoor weather; some volunteer roles may be outside

     

    General questions or group volunteering please email sjsucares@litpliant.net.

     

    Non-Affiates/Community Members: Complete required Volunteer Self-Certification of Vaccination Status Form 之前 volunteering. 

    Besides volunteering, there are other ways you can give assistance. 

• What do I need to know about 美国农业部’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Requirements? 

  • In June 2020 the Spartan Food Pantry became part of the 美国农业部’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).  

    Staff may ask and record information such as your name, address, family size, first per month, if it's a repeat visit on a EFA-7 form. You providing this information to staff acknowledges your consent to share this information with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. 

    Second Harvest is using TEFAP so that we can continue to distribute food to eligible 学生.

    Please see our poster at the 储藏室 for more information on non-discrimination statements.

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

    Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

    Cơ sở này là nơi cung cấp cơ hội bình đẳng.

• How often can 学生 come to the 储藏室?

  • Eligible 学生 are permitted to come to the 储藏室 once per calendar 周.

• What should I know about expiration dates?

  • There are multiple types of dates (best by, use by, produced on, etc.) associated with food products in the U.S. Most consumers do not know the difference. If you have questions, please ask a staff 成员 or review information available from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley 或者是 美国农业部.

    Most foods are safe to eat much longer than product dates. See handouts in the 储藏室 for recommendations. 

• Do I need to have my Tower ID on me?

  • 是的. Students without a Tower ID might not be able to be served. If you are a currently enrolled student who has permanently misplaced your ID card, contact the Bursar's Office for a replacement.

    Get more info on the Tower ID card.

• Will the 储藏室 track my volunteer hours? Who can sign off on completed hours?
  • It is the responsibility of the volunteer to track their own hours. If you are part of a program that has a requirement/timesheet/documentation please be sure to have that with you. Check-in with the person who is requiring you to do hours for a timesheet form or create your own.  Know that the Basic Need Coordinator(BNC) will sign your hours off, not the student staff in the 储藏室.  
     
    So please plan accordingly.  电子邮件 sjsucares@litpliant.net in advance so they can review your hours prior to your arrival; provide # of hours you were required, any deadlines you have, dates/times you have volunteered. 
    
     
    Many 学生 volunteer f或者是ir own fulfillment and therefore do not need any verification/signatures. 
• How many 学生 use the 储藏室?
  • 菠菜网lol正规平台在乎 posts Monthly Usage Statistics f或者是 Spartan Food Pantry. Many factors including semester breaks, 学生 moves, and the pandemic affect numbers; so averages are not always the best figure to share. 
• How did the 储藏室 get started?
  • More information on the history of the Student Hunger Committee, early food shelf efforts, monthly distributions and more can be found on the “数据 & Reports" page of the 菠菜网lol正规平台在乎 website.  我们的 public proposal to university administrators is also a great synopsis.  

Follow Us on Social Media

Follow us on 推特, 脸谱网, Instagram.

*Income limits are set by US Government at 235% of the Federal Poverty Line. $2,855.25 monthly for individuals of a household of 1; add $1,006.59 each per additional household 成员. Please ask if you have questions.