Ram Pantry

Ram Pantry exists to mitigate food insecurity.

Food Insecurity is defined by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or a limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”

For VCU, it is a situation in which a student lacks access to enough nutritious food for a healthy, active life. It can be linked to negative student outcomes in physical and mental health, financial and housing insecurity and educational attainment.

Our Mission

The mission of Ram Pantry is to ensure food security, human dignity and well-being on campus by providing in-need VCU students with food. To this end, Ram Pantry will collaborate with university and community partners to research and implement innovative approaches to food security and community health. We will do our part to ensure that no student in the VCU community goes hungry and that every student has access to nutritious food.

Contact

University Student Commons 
907 Floyd Avenue, 1st Floor, Room 121
Richmond, VA 23284
rampantry@vcu.edu
(804) 828-4514

MCV Campus:

We have opened a second smaller location on the MCV Campus. To gain access to this pantry please email Candyce Brown at cabrown3@vcu.edu.

Hours of Operation

To receive food, VCU student guests must complete the following survey - https://forms.gle/RGgjrMHa8Kpwd5SX9. After completing the survey, guests will receive an email with additional information on how to gain access to the pantry. Upon completion of the survey and meeting with a Ram Pantry staff member, guests are required to come in person to choose their items each week.

• Open Mondays-Thursdays from 11-7pm
• As of Monday, May 9th, guests will be ables to access the pantry using their VCU ID whenever the building is open (Monday- Fridays, 8am-6pm).
• Closed Saturdays, Sundays, Monday- May 30th, Monday- June 20th and Monday- July 4th

Our pantry is committed to providing food for students to help mitigate the effects of food insecurity. We do this in part by offering students fresh produce and bread weekly! Our surplus program is extended to all VCU students, and includes access to a variety of fresh foods. We hope that this program both helps to eliminate unnecessary waste, and keeps VCU students healthy!

In order to become a surplus guest, a short initial intake form has to be completed. The form only needs to be filled out once a semester, and can be found HERE. Upon completion of the survey and meeting with a Ram Pantry staff member, surplus guests are required to come in person to choose thier items each week.

We are extremely grateful to the following companies for their enormous support:

1. Visit the Dean of Students’ office to receive additional resources to assist in times of a crisis.
2. Apply for food stamps here: https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi. Virginia-SNAP-Food Stamps is a Virginia State initiated program whose primary goal is to enable low-income individuals access to a balanced meal. We encourage students to see if they qualify. 
3. Call 2-1-1 to receive directions to the nearest food pantry or visit https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank. For national food aid info, visit https://www.usa.gov/food-help.
4. United Network for Collegiate Pantry Sharing (UNCPS) – www.UNCPS.com
   Pre-qualification and Application Process Emergency Meal Service. UNCPS locates individual meal sponsorship partners (daily, weekly, and monthly) within our network to purchase emergency meals for restaurant pick-up in the community where the student is currently residing. Must have a student photo ID.  UNCPS are relying on the generosity of “Gift Meal” purchases – Meal availability is based on “Gift Meal” contributions.  Email:  VCU@uncps.com to confirm pre-qualification status, receive UNCPS Intake Form, and complete sign-up.
5. Visit other local pantries listed below (hours and services may vary during the COVID-19 situation, * indicates the resource has not yet confirmed service is provided during COVID-19).

VCU Dining Services
Check website for open locations, updated weekly
Take out only, check website for varying hours

2nd Presbyterian Church
5 N. 5th Street
Mondays from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., to-go lunch served

St. Peter's Catholic Church
800 E. Grace Street
Tuesdays from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., to-go lunch served

3rd St. Bethel AME Church
614 N. 3rd Street
Wednesdays from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., grab-and-go meals served

Commonwealth Catholic Charities
1512 Willow Lawn Drive
Curbside service on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., must have a photo ID & can receive food once monthly (up to 3 times/year)

2nd Baptist Church, West End
1400 Idlewood Ave.
Wednesdays from 11 a.m - 1 p.m., grab and go from the church parking lot (weather may alter operations)

St. Pauls Episcopal Church (Emmaus)
815 E. Grace Street
Thursdays from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., to-go lunch served

*Oregon Hill Baptist Center
400 S. Pine Street (Oregon Hill)
Thursdays from 10 am- 12 p.m., food pantry

Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (Red Door Ministry)
8 N. Laurel St. (by Monroe Park)
Fridays between 12 p.m. - 2 p.m., brown bag/ to-go meals served 

Centenary UMC
411 E. Grace Street
Fridays from 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., to-go lunch served

Food Not Bombs
Monroe Park
Sundays at 4 p.m.

We have received a number of thoughtful responses from VCU community members offering to assist with Ram Pantry operations, food drives, and donations. We greatly appreciate all of the caring suggestions and share your concerns for the health and well-being of our students.

If individuals would like to donate to Ram Pantry, we encourage them to visit Ram Pantry's Amazon Wish List to purchase food to help us keep the shelves stocked. 

If you would like to assist by coordinating a food drive in our honor, please email us at rampantry@vcu.edu.

Financial donations can be made at www.support.vcu.edu/give/rampantry.

Students can contact us for assistance with any of these processes at rampantry@vcu.edu or vcudean@vcu.edu.