The University of Georgia’s Division of Student Affairs and Well-being Resources announce the grand opening of the newly expanded Student Food Pantry.

Located on the first floor of Tate Student Center (Room 126), the 1,100-square-foot space helps address food insecurity on campus by providing fresh produce, grains, breads, quick meals, proteins, snacks and other essentials to students at no cost. The expansion was made possible by support from the Office of the President and Student Affairs leadership.

Open since 2011, the UGA Student Food Pantry supports thousands of students annually. The newly expanded location is eight times larger than the previous space, creating additional capacity for fresh, frozen and refrigerated foods. 

The new location opened on Oct. 8, and UGA students, faculty and staff are invited to an open house on Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to tour the new space. 

The pantry recently merged with Bulldog Basics, allowing students to access not only food but also hygiene products and personal care items in one convenient location.

The pantry’s mission is to reduce food insecurity and lessen the stigma associated with seeking support and resources on campus. Since January 2025, the UGA Student Food Pantry has recorded 34,337 visits, engaged more than 722 volunteers and distributed over 100,000 pounds of food. The pantry averages more than 100 visitors on a typical day, and increased usage is expected following the move to the new, larger space.

Campus and community support remains essential to this work. Contributions through online donations, an Amazon Wishlist and donation drives help ensure that UGA students have access to the resources they need to support their well-being. The pantry is largely staffed with volunteers, giving students, faculty, staff and community partners a chance to positively impact students.

Regular shopping hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. After-hours events hosted by student organizations are available from 5-7 p.m. throughout the semester. Follow @ugawell_being on social media for event updates. 

To access the pantry, shoppers must present a UGA ID. Visitors are limited to 15 items total per week and a maximum of two hygiene items and two frozen items per week.

There are opportunities to volunteer individually or as a group, as well as hosting a donation drive. For more information about volunteering, visit https://well-being.uga.edu/food-pantry/ or email [email protected]. Sign up directly for volunteer shifts at https://uga.givepulse.com/group/1098230-UGA-Student-Food-Pantry. The university community can also support the Student Food Pantry by purchasing items from its Amazon Wishlist.