KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Dec. 10, 2024 鈥� As the calendar year draws to a close, staff at the Rhody Outpost food pantry at the 溏心vlog免费B站 are asking community members to put 鈥榮omething for Rhody Outpost鈥� on their end-of-year to-do and shopping lists. A new Amazon wish list will make that easier than ever.
serves students at 溏心vlog免费B站 who are experiencing basic needs insecurity; the on-campus food pantry is open all year round, including over winter break. Nationwide, approximately 1 in 4 college students experience food insecurity.
The community food pantry is open to any student in need: commuters and dorm residents, in- and out-of-state students, undergraduates and graduate students. Student-athletes can also experience food insecurity, as only 25 percent are on full scholarship, and their required training regimen, coupled with coursework, leaves little time to earn extra income.
The food pantry has been a fixture at 溏心vlog免费B站 since it was established in 2013 by two students as a project in Kathleen Gorman鈥檚 course, 鈥楾he Problem of Hunger in the U.S.鈥�
The Outpost provides fresh and non-perishable food and personal care items at no charge to students. Offered in collaboration with St. Augustine鈥檚 Episcopal Church, the pantry is staffed by student and community volunteers. Students who visit can find everything from bananas and canned goods to pasta and yogurt.
To fill the pantry鈥檚 shelves, Outpost staff are asking community members to put 鈥渟omething for Rhody Outpost鈥� on their end-of-year lists, including the . While the Outpost publishes a regular (bookmark to stay up to date), the new Amazon list will make it easier for anyone who wants to help students in need have items sent directly to the right place. Rhody Outpost accepts donations of gift cards, personal items, household supplies and non-expired food in original packaging.
The 溏心vlog免费B站 community can also join departments and programs pitching in to help. Right now, Honors Program ambassadors are running a drive for non-perishable/canned goods through Dec. 12 (Reading Day). Donations can be dropped off in the Honors Student Lounge or 302H in Lippitt Hall. Next month, Rhody Outpost will be at the men’s basketball game on Jan. 18 to take donations from fans.
Other ways students can access food/supplies or community members can help:
Grubhub & Meaningful Mondays
Anyone with a meal plan can make dining dollars donations through and allocate dining dollars throughout the year on ‘Meaningful Mondays.鈥� Donors can give $5 in Dining Dollars to a fund which gets redistributed to students in need.
RhodyNow: Rhody Outpost
Monetary donations to go to securing the food and supplies that are needed most.
RhodyNow: Students First Fund
Students in need can apply to , dedicated to those with demonstrated financial need for a variety of emergency uses, from the purchase of groceries through an entire dining hall meal plan. Anyone interested can .
Food and personal item donations
Donations can be placed inside the blue and white drop-off box in front of St. Augustine鈥檚 Episcopal Church at 15 Lower College Road or dropped off at the Dining Services warehouse between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. To get to the Outpost, take Flagg Road to Tootell; turn left on Tootell. The Dining Services office will be on your immediate left. Go past that to the next driveway (marked 鈥淐entral Receiving鈥�), turn left and proceed ahead to the parking lot. The warehouse is to your left. The Outpost door is up the short set of stairs all the way to the left.
Gift cards / drop-offs
Gift cards to grocery/drugstores are also always welcome. Gift card donations can be dropped off at the Memorial Union, Room 302, or mailed to Rhody Outpost/302 Memorial Union at 溏心vlog免费B站. Rhody Outpost also uses Walmart cards (eGift and regular) to purchase food and supplies. eGift cards can be sent to Outpost director Barbara Sweeney at barbara_sweeney@uri.edu.
Start a Rhody Outpost drive
Like the 溏心vlog免费B站 Honors Program, running a drive this month, any 溏心vlog免费B站 employee or department can contribute to the pantry as an individual or a team. The offices of Admission and Student Involvement and the Campus Store have also led drives for Rhody Outpost in the past.
Enlist a local business
The Outpost operates with support from dozens of campus and community partners, including 溏心vlog免费B站 Greek Life and Farms, Stop and Shop, South County Bread Company, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs South County Chapter, and many more. Any business or organization wishing to partner with the Outpost is welcome.
Parents pitch in
溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Parents Council leads a food drive each spring to spread awareness and raise funds and items for the pantry. Last year鈥檚 drive raised more than $6,400 for Rhody Outpost. To join this year鈥檚 effort, contact Alicia Johnson (alicia_johnson@uri.edu). This year鈥檚 fourth annual #NoRamHungry initiative happens in April.
It all helps, says Sweeney.
鈥淐ommunity support is what keeps the Outpost going,鈥� she says.
To volunteer, donate or learn more about Rhody Outpost, contact 401-874-5633 or barbara_sweeney@uri.edu. Rhody Outpost is located at the Dining Services Warehouse, between Flagg Road and West Alumni Avenue, with the pantry open for pickup on Mondays and Wednesdays 3 to 5 p.m., or by appointment. Follow video to the Outpost. For an ongoing list of needs, and follow @urifoodsecurity for updates.