Wildcat Pantry

Pantries and Food Assistance

How to use the Pantries

CWU faculty, staff, and students are welcome to use the pantries. We encourage wildcats to take what they need while being mindful that it is a shared community resource sustained on donations.

Brooks Library 153B hub

  1. Visit the pantry during our hours Monday - Thursday from 10AM-4PM. We recommend shoppers bring their own bag. The Pantry is stocked every morning, however items are first come- first serve. 
  2. Browse the pantry and pick out items, keeping in mind our point system (20 points per individual and 27 points for households with more people).
  3. Check-out by bringing your items to the front desk where a Wildcat Pantry student employee will check-in the shopper in (using name and/or Student ID#). Then the shoppers items will be scanned and bagged. You're all set! 
    1. Note: ID numbers confirm your affiliation with CWU. Only our professional staff has access to the check-in results and data collected.
    2. Scanning items helps us know what items are popular and how much to purchase for restock. 

Casual Clothing Closet

The Wildcat Pantry no longer offers a casual clothing space within the pantry to better focus on meeting students nutritional needs. The career center has recently expanded their casual clothing closet to better serve students needs. We ask that all clothing donations be brought to career services in Bouillon 206 and recommend shopping in their new space located in Bouillon 112

Mini Grab & Go pantries

No check-in process. You are free to stop by and take from the shelf anytime the building is open.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who stocks the pantries?

    The main Wildcat Pantry location in Brooks library is restocked by student employees daily. The Grab and Go locations are re-stocked bi-weekly by the Wildcat Pantry. The purpose of opening a large pantry space in the Library was to reduce locations, so students did not bear the weight of managing 8 pantry locations across campus. Current grab & go locations have remained available due to the leadership and support of faculty & staff in those buildings as well as Wildcat Pantry fundraising efforts.

  • Where do the packaged meals come from?

    The Food Recovery program was created by CWU Dining. Every week, meals from Holmes are repackaged and distributed then delivered to refrigerators across campus. The intent of Food Recovery is to focus on reducing food waste across campus and provide meals to the campus community. 

    Food Recovery is delivered Monday- Friday to refrigerators in these locations: 

    • Main Location: In front of Wildcat Pantry across from Jimmy B's
    • SURC (ASCWU Office)
    • Black Hall (Diversity and Equity Center)
    • Bouillon Hall (Veterans Center)
    • Science Building 

    Wildcats can volunteer to repackage meals. All you need is a food handlers card! Contact the wildcatpantry@cwu.edu for more information! 

  • How is the Wildcat Pantry funded?

    The Wildcat Pantry currently operates through State funds, fundraising, subcontracting partnerships and donations.

  • Where else can I go for assistance?

Apply for SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides important nutritional support for low-wage, working families, seniors and people with disabilities on a fixed income, and other individuals and households with low incomes.

Fill out an application over the phone 877-501-2233 or at a local community service office.

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