Campus Cupboard

Campus Cupboard

Providing students in periodic need with access to the basic necessities of daily living. All enrolled UA students — undergraduate, graduate, international, on-campus resident, or commuter — have access to an assortment of non-perishable food and hygiene items. When you’re in a financial pinch, we can help reduce your worries by providing you with food and personal hygiene items.

GIVE NOW TO CAMPUS CUPBOARD

Summer 2023 Operations Updates

  • Closed - Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th
  • Closed - Juneteenth, Monday, June 19th
  • Closed - Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4th

***Please note that the Campus Cupboard will not operate during campus closures (i.e. inclement weather, holidays, etc.).

Stay in the know and follow ZipAssist on Instagram!

Food Distributions:

  • 2nd Thursday of the Month - Foodbank Pop-Up Pantry (view flyer)
  • 4th Thursday of the Month - TSA Food Distribution (view flyer)

Community Food Resources: 

Visiting a Cupboard

Any enrolled UA student may approach a cupboard in any of these locations and take the needed items. Students are asked to provide demographic information, which is used for assessment and evaluation of the program.

What to Expect

  1. The first time you visit the walk-in Campus Cupboard in Simmons Hall (Room 102C), you will be asked to complete a short questionnaire that collects some basic information so that we can continue to provide this program.

  2. Each time you visit, you will be asked to let us know that you’ve popped in…think of this as our “hello” to one another.

  3. Just like any store, you will be given a shopping basket and briefed on the space guidelines.

  4. Once you’ve collected your needed items you’ll then see a ZipAssist team member to check out.

  5. Unlike a grocery store, we don’t collect any money…we just want to make sure you selected items within the appropriate limit.

Locations

"Grab-and-go" locations

  • Jean Hower Taber Student Union, First Floor (outside room 133, across from the Game Room)
  • Bierce Library, First Floor (left of entrance)
  • Simmons Hall, Lobby
  • Polsky Building, Second Floor (4th floor across from Adult Focus)
  • Folk Hall, (past the gallery by the studio spaces)
  • Law School, Third Floor (kitchenette by the library)

Walk-in cupboard

Simmons Hall, Room 102C offers a larger variety of more substantial non-perishable foods and full size items.

Online request

We offer Zips Care Packages for enrolled students. Each package includes up to 30 food items and five hygiene or miscellaneous items.

  1. Simply complete the online form for basic needs assistance and we'll assemble your package.
  2. We’ll bundle your items in a discrete bag and will have them ready for pick-up at the ZipAssist desk in Simmons Hall.
  3. You will receive an email when your package is ready for pick-up and to arrange a pick-up time.
  4. When you arrive, you will simply confirm your identity for the items and be on your way.

Note:

  • Please allow two business days for processing of your Zips Care Package.
  • We will fill your request to the best of our ability.

Summer 2023 Walk-in Hours

Mon:

TBD
Tue:

12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Wed: 

9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Thu:

Closed
Fri: 

1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sat: Closed
Sun: Closed

Additional resources

Community Resources

We also provide information about various community resources available to UA students.

Students may also contact uazipassist@uakron.edu for information about temporary housing, textbooks, utility assistance, buss passes, eye exams and more.

Long-term support

Campus Cupboard is intended to provide “gap assistance,” to enrolled students up to five times per semester. However, no student will be turned away. ZipAssist staff will work with you to find more sustainable food options, employment, and additional assistance programs and long-term support options through community resources, organization referrals, government assistance eligibility (ex: SNAP, HEAP, WIC), and potential support through the one-time emergency aid program at UA, the Student Emergency Financial Assistance (SEFA) program.

Help for students:

If you are aware of someone having difficulty, or if you are in need of help, submit a Help-A-Zip referral. One of our caring student-support professionals will offer assistance.

I know a student who needs help

I need help

Supporting a Cupboard

From August to October 2021, nearly 500 students requested food online or visited the walk-in pantry in Simmons Hall. This amounts to over 3,500 pounds in items or more than 10,000 food and hygiene products distributed to UA students. With your support, a donation of $30 provides one student with a five-day supply of emergency food.

Donations

Donations are always needed and can be dropped off to ZipAssist, located on the first floor of Simmons Hall. We kindly ask that you adhere to our donation guidelines:

  • All items must have labels
  • All items must be sealed
  • No homemade goods, including baked goods and home-canned items
  • Expired items will not be accepted

Shop on Amazon

You can also purchase food for the pantry through Amazon, using our Amazon Food Pantry Needs list.

  • Select items that you wish to purchase and sponsor for the Cupboard
  • Ensure the items send to:
    The University of Akron – ZipAssist
    277 E Buchtel Ave
    Akron, OH 44325-6222

Monetary Support

To make a monetary donation to the Campus Cupboard, visit the University’s giving page and click the “Give Online” button.

When asked what you would like to support, select “Other Designation” then type “Campus Cupboard.” Complete the rest of the form as usual. UA employees can also give through Payroll Deduction.

Items Needed Now

  • Fridge/Freezer items
  • canned fruit
  • cereal
  • microwaveable meals
  • gluten-free items
  • vegetarian items
  • pasta
  • boxed Quick to make rice or grain mixes
  • canned soups (including vegetarian)
  • dish soap
  • toothpaste
  • toilet paper
  • bathroom and kitchen cleaners
  • cleaning sponges
  • window cleaners
  • shampoo and conditioners
  • can openers
  • menstruation pads w/ wings
  • trash bags

Questions?

If you have any questions about giving to this program, or the Student Emergency Financial Assistance [SEFA] program, please contact Alison Doehring, Director, ZipAssist, at aer15@uakron.edu.

Sponsors

The Campus Cupboard is made possible due to the generous support of campus offices, colleagues, student organizations, faculty, staff, and students. Additional support has been provided by community organizations, local youth groups, and various donors including The Salvation Army of Summit County and the Akron/Canton Regional Foodbank.
 

About the Cupboard

The Campus Cupboard program was created from data collected at UA and national college student trends; both of which determined that there’s a segment of the student body that is food insecure and would consider making use of a campus food pantry. For national data on food insecurity and basic needs for college students, please visit Hope4College.com.