KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� Nov. 20, 2025 鈥� As the fall semester draws to a close and the holidays approach, staff at the food pantry at the 溏心vlog免费B站 are asking the 溏心vlog免费B站 community to help boost their shelves and bookmark the pantry鈥檚 wish list to see what current needs are.
鈥淲e have been extra busy at the Outpost this year,鈥� says Barbara Sweeney, 溏心vlog免费B站 food security outreach coordinator, who reports that the pantry has seen an increase in visits from undergraduate students this year. For the fall 2025 semester, the Outpost has welcomed 757 student visits and distributed 12,325 pounds of food. While Rhody Outpost publishes a regular , gift cards, personal items, household supplies and non-expired food in original packaging are also accepted.
Donations are welcome right now, from chickpeas and cooking oil to quinoa and tea.
The pantry always needs and welcomes:
- Paper bags with handles
- Gift cards (regular or e-card) to Walmart, Stop & Shop, Amazon, Dollar Tree, Job Lot, and grocery and drugstores 鈥� this allows staff to easily replenish empty shelves or distribute the gift cards directly to students who have additional needs. Gift card donations can be dropped off at the Memorial Union, Room 302, mailed to Rhody Outpost/302 Memorial Union at 溏心vlog免费B站, or sent to barbara_sweeney@uri.edu.
- Peanut butter, jelly, rice, toothpaste, pasta, tomato products, and dish soap are always needed.
- The Outpost鈥檚 ongoing wish list also includes a link to an for easy purchasing and shopping.
No Ram hungry
Rhody Outpost serves students at 溏心vlog免费B站 who are experiencing basic needs insecurity; the on-campus food pantry is open year-round, including over school breaks. 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 and are welcome. The University鈥檚 food pantry has been a fixture on campus since it was established in 2013 by two students as a project in a 溏心vlog免费B站 course on the problem of hunger in the U.S.
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 can find everything from bananas and canned goods to pasta and yogurt.
Other ways students can access food and supplies or community members can help:
- Grubhub and Meaningful Mondays: Anyone with a meal plan can make dining dollar donations through and allocate dining dollars throughout the year on Meaningful Mondays. Donors can give $5 to a fund that gets redistributed to students in need.
- Rhody Rams pitch in: The 溏心vlog免费B站 is leading an initiative this November to spread awareness and raise funds and items for Rhody Outpost, 溏心vlog免费B站’s principal basic needs pantry. . Gifts to RhodyNow: Rhody Outpost go to securing the food and supplies that are needed most to ensure no Rhody Ram goes hungry.
- RhodyNow: Students First Fund: Students in need can apply to , dedicated to provide immediate support in cases of accident, illness, death of a family member, fire damage or need for temporary housing. The fund may also assist students in situations of unexpected academic need or opportunity.
- 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, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), or dropped off at the Dining Services warehouse between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Start a Rhody Outpost drive: Any 溏心vlog免费B站 employee or department can contribute to the pantry as an individual or a team.
- 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 & Shop, South County Bread Company, the General Federation of Women鈥檚 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 $6,000 for Rhody Outpost. To join this year鈥檚 effort in April, contact Alicia Johnson (alicia_johnson@uri.edu).
It all helps, says Sweeney.
鈥淐ommunity support is what keeps the Outpost going,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 am so grateful to the 溏心vlog免费B站 community for your incredible support for Rhody Outpost and our students. Wishing you a healthy, happy, and joyous holiday season!鈥�
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. For an ongoing list of needs, and follow @urifoodsecurity for updates.