Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry
The SRC will reopen for operation on Thursday, January 23, 2024.
If a student needs access to the Student Resource Center from January 2, 2025 until January 23, 2025, please email wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu.
ATTENTION:
Spring 2025 Hours:
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Friday from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Hours may vary during breaks.
Thompson Student Center, Ground Floor
WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry exists to combat food insecurity and ensure the human dignity of all and well-being on campus by providing in-need WSSU students with healthy, culturally appropriate emergency foods. Food insecurity, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is having “limited or uncertain access to nutritious, safe foods necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle." Based on a poll that was conducted under the Office of Dean of Students in September 2015, 57% of WSSU students who were polled, claimed to have gone without food because of a lack of funds.
WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry strives to do its part in assuring that no currently enrolled WSSU students goes hungry and that every student has access to nutritious food. In addition, the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry promotes community engagement and education about food insecurity, community health, and fosters university-community partnership.
WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry is staffed by student interns, volunteers, and leaders trained to provide caring and compassionate service, to be respectful to all, and to maintain the confidentiality of those who use the food pantry. The initiative is a collaboration between students, the Office of the Dean of Students, and regional/national corporate sponsors. 100% of the original products gifted to the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry were donated by Food Lion, Inc.
**No student fee money is used to support WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry.**
Currently enrolled WSSU students can access the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry to obtain items needed. Some items may be limited in quantity based on their availability.
After the start of the academic year, currently enrolled students can register for the program to access the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry. Student must complete the Helping Hands Food Pantry User Form. After they complete the form, they will be contacted to participate in a brief orientation prior to being able to access the Pantry. During this orientation, the student will receive a punch card with a unique 4-digit ID#. The student must bring this punch card to the Pantry when they want to access their monthly resources. If a student loses their punch card, they must meet with the Assistant Dean of Students to obtain a new punch card.
The WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry is located in the Donald Julian Reaves (DJR) Student Activities Center, second floor, room 202. Hours are established at the start of the semester as listed above, but hours may vary during breaks.
In order to access the Helping Hands Food Pantry, this registration form must be completed in advance and the student must attend an orientation. If a student is unable to come to the Helping Hands Food Pantry during normal operating hours, the student should send an email to wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu outlining available times and dates they can come to the Food Pantry.
Summary
- Complete the Helping Hands Food Pantry User Form.
- Participate in a mandatory orientation and receive a punch card with a unique 4-digit ID#.
- Come to the Pantry to obtain items needed. Some items may be limited in quantity based on their availability.
Online Forms
- Helping Hands Food Pantry User Form - This form must be completed to register to utilize the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Our staff will be checking emails daily for messages.
What Do I Do on Days When the Food Pantry is Closed?
WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry users who are currently enrolled students are encouraged to use the food pantry during the operating hours listed at the top of this page. Hours may vary during breaks. For those who cannot access it during normal operating hours, email wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu outlining available the times and dates they can come to the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry.
If Inclement Weather Occurs, What Should I Do?
The WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry will follow the university inclement weather policy, unless otherwise noted. Therefore, if you are aware of inclement weather nearing and you are low on food resources, please submit an email to wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu outlining the times and dates you can visit the Pantry.
Any currently enrolled WSSU student can access the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry, once they register for the program and undergo an orientation. Currently enrolled WSSU students can access the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry to obtain items needed. Some items may be limited in quantity based on their availability. Please complete the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry user Form or contact us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu with any questions.
How Does the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry Work?
- Complete the Helping Hands Food Pantry User Form.
- Participate in a mandatory orientation and receive a punch card with a unique 4-digit ID#.
- Come to the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry to obtain items needed. Some items may be limited in quantity based on their availability.
- Once a student comes to the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry, a volunteer will then assist the student in gathering their items.
- The hours of operation are listed at the top of this page, but hours may vary during the breaks.
- If adverse weather occurs or an emergency, please contact the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu.
- If you need additional resources, please email us so we can assist you.
Available Food Items
Canned Meats/Protein
- Tuna/Salmon
- Chicken/Pork
- Canned beans
- Peanut butter and jelly
Canned Stews & Soups
- Chili
- Beef stew
- Spaghetti O's
- Ravioli
- Soups
Grains, Pasta & Sauces
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Macaroni and cheese
- Spaghetti & spaghetti sauce
Canned Vegetables
- Green beans/corn
- Collards
- Mixed vegetables
- Potatoes
Canned Fruits
- Peaches
- Pears
- Fruit cocktail
- Applesauce
Other Items
- Menstrual products
- Laundry detergent
- Dish soap
- Toothpaste and tooth brushes/dental floss
If you have specific dietary restrictions and our products do not meet your required needs, please contact us to let us know how we can further assist you.
Another resource to best guide students in gaining information they need to make healthier choices is The Student's Guide to Nutrition created by BestColleges.com. This guide assist students in making healthier food choices based off of the food groups and better understand the appropriate sugar intake individuals should have to live a happy and healthy life.
Volunteer
We welcome any person and organization that would like to volunteer with the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry! Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Anyone who wants to volunteer at the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry must be briefed on our process and guidelines.
Students - any volunteer work done with the Food Pantry counts toward your service hours!
Volunteer training is quick and can be done on an individual basis or done as a group. Please email us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu to learn about volunteering for the Food Pantry.
If you are part of an organization and would like to help, email us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu to talk about how you can be involved.
Some of the ways that classes, individuals, and groups can help with volunteering include:
- Holding food drives and making donations (both food and monetary).
- Holding information sessions in classrooms, lectures, and residence halls about the Food Pantry and ways to help.
Donate
If you are interested in supporting the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry through financial means or through food drives, please email wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu.
