Foothills Campus Community Pantry
To promote this initiative, we invite you to download an informational poster that can be sent to groups and posted in work and learning areas. Download poster here
About the project
The Foothills campus community pantry of nonperishable food and essentials is a grassroots initiative designed to help address a need. You can find the pantry in the Health Sciences Centre atrium (also known as Hippocrates Mall), near the staircase that leads up to the library. It is available to all self-identified Foothills campus community members with needs, and stocked by all members wishing to donate nonperishable food and essentials.
This initiative operates on a Take what you need, Share what you can model.
Frequently Asked Questions about the community pantry
Community members are welcome to donate non-perishable food items to the pantry.
Here are some examples of desired items.
Canned food:
- Soup
- Baked beans (with and without pork)
- Other beans (kidney, chickpea, etc)
- Meat and fish (e.g. tuna, salmon, sardines)
- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Pasta sauce
Packaged foods:
- Peanut butter
- Jam and jelly
- Bags of rice, lentils, chickpeas or other grains
- Pasta
- Cereal and instant oatmeal
- Macaroni and cheese
- Oat milk and fruit juice
Hygiene and household cleaning products:
- Period products
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss
- Paper products
- Soap: liquid handsoap, unscented bars, laundry detergent
- Cleaning supplies
All donated items must be in the original, undamaged packaging (e.g.: no dented cans or ripped bags), and not expired.
No, all donated food must be in its original, undamaged, packaging.
No - as this is a community-driven project, there is no capacity for the School to purchase items for the pantry. You may find it useful to collaborate with others in the community to take turns purchasing items for the pantry.
The pantry is located near the staircase on the main level of the Health Sciences Centre atrium (Hippocrates Mall). You can take your donations to the pantry and place them inside the cupboard.
Work units can also organize a donation collection event and/or location within the unit, and then designate one person to take collected items to the pantry or contact PESJO staff for more information, pesjo@ucalgary.ca
The Foothills campus community pantry is open to any and all who need it. No questions asked.
No, you do not need to register or sign up to access the food in the pantry. This food is available for anyone in the Foothills campus community and can be taken freely and anonymously.
There is a white board by the pantry doors. Please write your "wishlist" items on this whiteboard, for donating community members to see.
Items can also be requested through our anonymous online survey.
Work units or campus groups can organize a donation collection event and/or location within the unit, and then designate one person to take collected items to the pantry or to provide them to PESJO for stocking the pantry during low-donation periods. Contact pesjo@ucalgary.ca
If you are hosting an event through your unit or group, you might also encourage attendees to bring along an item for donation.
Rates of food insecurity is an under-recognized challenge within campus communities, with negative impacts on learning, physical health, and mental health. Estimated rates of food insecurity are higher among undergraduate, graduate, and medical students than those seen in surrounding communities. We recognize that individual and campus level interventions will not address the root causes of food insecurity, but this program can hopefully provide some relief for those within our campus community.
Dr. Lauren Drogos, PhD
Program Director, Libin Cardiovascular Institute
The origins of the Foothills campus community pantry and GradSnacks, a CSM graduate student initiative
In 2021, Alberta had the highest rate of food insecurity in Canada at 20.3%. Food insecurity and poor diet quality are interrelated. People living with food insecurity generally eat fewer nutrient-rich foods, and have poorer mental, social and physical health. One way to increase access to nutritious foods is provide food subsidies to food insecure households.
Dr. Dana Olstad, PhD, RD
Associate Professor, Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine
More options for access to food in Calgary
There are other cost-effective food options available on main campus. These include the Students' Union Food Bank, The Fresh Routes food truck (scheduled visits to main campus), and the Good Food Box (depot at MSC).
Calgarians can also access a number of services through the city.
Fresh Routes at Foothills Campus - Wednesdays
Fresh Routes is a mobile grocery store that brings healthy and affordable food right to you.
Everyone is welcome!
Day: Wednesday
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Health Sciences Centre Mall (Hippocrates Mall) -watch for the market by the stairs to the library.
Choose your own fruits, vegetables, and eggs. Please bring your own reusable bags.
Accepting cash, credit, debit, and Calgary Dollars.
Questions, concerns, more information?
We welcome your feedback on this initiative to address food security at Foothills campus.
Feedback can be provided by email to pesjo@ucalgary.ca, or by completing an anonymous survey.