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The Food Cupboard is a discreet and confidential support service that provides students who are experiencing food insecurity with food and other basic necessities.
Are you a student who is experiencing food insecurity due to one or more of the following reasons? You may be eligible to access the Food Cupboard.
Qualifying students can access the Food Cupboard once every 30 days.
To use this service, you must complete an intake form and schedule an appointment.
Pembroke and Perth students: Only complete an intake form.
Intake Form and Appointment SelectionThe Food Cupboard offers a number of items, including the following:
The Food Cupboard is funded largely by student activity fees. It is also funded by generous donations from staff, students, and community members.
Please note that the Food Cupboard’s resources are limited – we aim to serve those who need it the most.
The Food Cupboard is always accepting donations!
You can drop off food donations directly at the Food Cupboard in Room B102, or you can leave donations in one of the Campbell’s Soup bins on campus, which are located in the front entrance of the Jack Doyle Athletics and Recreation Centre (X Building) and the main Student’s Association office (E114). Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Food Cupboard or processed in E114.
Acceptable donations include the following:
We cannot accept any of the following items as donations:
Please contact the Food Cupboard Coordinator for larger volume donations, events where you are collecting donations, or more information on donating.
The Food Cupboard is located in room B102. Directions will be provided in your confirmation email once you have scheduled an appointment and completed an intake form.
Each student must schedule an appointment and complete an intake form each time they use the Food Cupboard. You may do so using this link. You MUST complete both forms prior to your appointment, and you may be asked to show your two confirmation emails during pick-up.
The intake form asks basic questions, for example, student number, email, reason for visit, and family type. This information is shared with The Ottawa Food Bank, who the Food Cupboard is a member agency of. All information is kept private and confidential.
Food insecurity means not having access to sufficient food, or food of an adequate quality, to meet basic needs.
Students can access the Food Cupboard once every 30 days.
No, if you need additional food assistance between your visits to the Food Cupboard, let the Food Cupboard Coordinator know and they can provide a list of other food resources offered in the city of Ottawa.
You must bring your student card and your own bags (2 bags are recommended).
Best Before Date: Indicates when the unopened product should be of high quality (if the product has been stored under appropriate conditions). It does NOT mean the product is necessarily unsafe to eat. Also referred to as: "use by", "sell by" or "freeze by". E.g.: bread, most canned & packaged foods.
Expiry Date: Indicates when the last day a product is safe to consume. E.g.: infant formula, baby food, vitamins, etc.
Understanding these terms can help reduce food waste and save you money!
No appointment is required for the Book Nook! However, because it is in the Food Cupboard office, you may be asked to come back later if a student is expected for their Food Cupboard appointment. Thank you for your understanding.
Come visit the Food Cupboard’s Book Nook! Take a book, leave a book, or both! You can stop by any time the Food Cupboard is open. We are always accepting donations of gently-used books. We do not accept textbooks. No appointment necessary.
Because the Book Nook is located in the Food Cupboard, please note that you may be asked to leave if a student has an appointment.