Food and Supplies
Food and Supplies
The Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) and the Division of Student Life partner to provide access to food and supplies for students who are experiencing financial insecurity.
Addressing Food Insecurity at the University of Delaware
Food insecurity is "the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner." As the Hope Center explains, in its most extreme forms, food insecurity is accompanied by physiological sensations of hunger.
Data from the #RealCollege survey indicates that of the 86,000 students who participated, 45 percent of respondents were food insecure in the previous 30 days, 56 percent were housing insecure in the previous year and 17 percent experienced homelessness in the previous year.
The Food and Supply Pantry operates on an online order and pickup system. Order your food and supplies online and schedule a pick up at the Center for Intercultural Engagement in the Perkins Student Center.
Anyone with a UD Student ID is eligible to use the food and supply pantry. Please bring your UD ID to identify your order.
Ordering Period:
The order form is open to undergraduate students on Mondays and graduate students on Tuesdays. On both days, the order form will open at 8 a.m. and close at 9 p.m., or when our capacity is reached.
Pickup Times
| Term | Pickup |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Wednesdays, 3–6 p.m. Fridays, 9:30–11:30 a.m., 12:30–6:30 p.m. |
| Winter Session | Closed for Winter 2025, please see StUDent Central for any related food events |
| Spring Semester | TBD |
| Summer Session | TBD |
The Food and Supply Pantry is happy to offer The Soap Bar! The Soap Bar is a self-serve refill station for laundry detergent, dish detergent, hand soap, dryer sheets and full-size garbage bags. No sign-up or appointments are necessary.
You’re encouraged to bring your own reusable containers (up to 24oz). A limited supply of reusable 8oz pump bottles and 16oz squeeze bottles are also available.
Hours:
Fall/Spring Semesters
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Winter Session
Tuesdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Location:
Resource Room, Center for Intercultural Engagement, 261 Perkins Student Center
We've partnered with the Food Bank of Delaware to offer on-campus mobile food pantry services each month at Lot 19, off of North College Avenue. The truck brings nonperishable foods, fresh produce, dairy, beverages and other refrigerated and frozen items, as well as personal products when available.
You can register at Eventbrite or just walk/drive up! All you need to bring is either your UD ID or State of Delaware ID (e.g., a Delaware driver’s license) to register on-site.
We also welcome volunteers to support distribution.
Check back each month for announcements about upcoming Mobile Food Pantry events.
Availability:
Select Wednesdays, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at Lot 19, 29 West Cleveland Avenue, Newark, DE (near the Studio Arts Building)
Registration Period:
Registration opens two weeks prior and closes at 8 a.m. the day before each event.
Follow Food Bank of Delaware on Eventbrite to be notified when registration opens (listed as "Drive-thru mobile pantry at University of Delaware").
Swipe Out Hunger allows Blue Hens to donate their unused swipe from a campus meal plan.
Donations can include two or more guest meals from an unlimited or 14 weekly meal plan.
Swipe drives are held each fall and spring semester.
Meal swipes are available now for any UD student in need and can be added to any UD ONEcard, regardless of what type of student you are or whether you otherwise have a campus meal plan.
Contact Student Advocacy & Support at studentsupport@udel.edu if you are interested in having swipes added to your UD ONEcard.
Blue Hen Bounty
Finding oneself without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food is called food insecurity, and it is a growing concern on many college campuses. Students, faculty and staff working within UD’s Episcopal Campus Ministry aim to address that need at Blue Hen Bounty, a campus-area food pantry that is fully stocked with canned meats; fruit and vegetables; various grains and single-serve meals; cereal, snacks and condiments; assorted beverages; and even basic toiletries such as shampoo and toothbrushes.
Located at St. Thomas’ Parish at 276 South College Ave, students can access the Blue Hen Bounty by simply showing their UD ONEcard. The pantry is open by appointment; call 302-368-4644 or visit Blue Hen Bounty online for more information.
Food Bank of Delaware
The Food Bank of Delaware’s mission is to “inspire hope in our communities by providing food to nourish Delawareans, while collaborating on long-term solutions to hunger and poverty.” Every year, they offer millions of pounds of food, produce and supplies to Delawareans through their five-acre farm, on-site food pantries, mobile food pantries and a network of hunger-relief partners. In addition, they support workforce and community development programming inclusive of job training, financial coaching and benefits outreach.
Their on-site Newark pantry is at 222 Lake Drive, Newark, DE 19702. More information on their locations and events, as well as volunteer and donation opportunities, can be found on their website.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP is a food supplemental program that enables low-income families to buy a variety of food that is the basis for better nutrition. Benefits are issued electronically to the family's Delaware Food First card each month. This is an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Food Supplement Program recipients use this card at local grocery stores and participating online retailers to access their food benefit.
Paper applications are also available:
The United States Department of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Service (FNS), is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the Food Supplement Program.
- Must be U.S. Citizen or documented* U.S. resident.
- Must be a resident of Delaware.
- Must meet one of the following requirements:
- Have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,001, OR
- Have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 who share their household with one of the following:
- A person or persons age 60 and over, OR
- A person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent or yourself).
- Generally, applicants must earn a gross monthly income (household income before any of the program’s deductions are applied) lower than 200 percent or 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.
- For 2022–2023, for a household of one person, the maximum gross monthly income limit was $2,266.
- The maximum monthly SNAP benefit was $281.
- For an chart of SNAP income eligibility and benefits estimates, go to the Delaware SNAP benefits page.
- For a quick test of eligibility, go to the bottom of the Delaware page of the Federal Benefits website.
- For 2022–2023, for a household of one person, the maximum gross monthly income limit was $2,266.
- Individuals who receive TANF, GA or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) do not need to meet an income test to receive benefits.
- All children who are 21 years of age and younger and live with their parents must apply for food benefits with their parents.
Unsure about eligibility? Understandable. Complete the free ASSIST screening tool online to check eligibility, apply and re-apply for benefits including SNAP, Medicaid, Child Care services and more.
Y Mission Market at Central YCMA
The YMCA Mission Market at the Central YMCA is a free store, open to community members, that aims to combat hunger and provide for those in need. The Market features shelf-stable and frozen food, clothes and more.
Donations are provided by local community members and partners which include: The Food Bank of Delaware, Brandywine Hundred Rotary Club, Planting to Feed Inc., Wawa, Giant and Starbucks. Anyone interested in supporting the Y Mission Market can bring donations to the Central YMCA front desk at any time.
Location: 501 West Eleventh St., Wilmington, DE 19801
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday: 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 2–4 p.m.
Additional times available upon request.
Check website for updates and contact information.