Author: Desroches, Rebecca

Husky Harvest Updates/Wish List


SPRING SEMESTER DONATION DRIVE: TOILETRIES

Toilet paper, tissues, deodorant, menstrual care products, razors, soap/shower gel/bodywash,
dental items (toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes), baby diapers and wipes


Why donation drives? Donation drives allow us to manage the intake of donations (especially if there are any food recalls) and provide frequently requested items that we are unable to get from the food banks/local organizations that supply the pantry.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

Please do not drop off at the pantry. Donation drive items can only be accepted at the following locations.

  • UConn Dining Commissary: 30 Gurleyville Rd, Storrs (M-F; 6am-4pm)
  • UConn Dining Main Office: Towers Residence Halls – Wade Building, 3384 Towers Loop Rd, Storrs
    (M-F; 8am-5pm)

If you ran a donation drive for the items above with your club/org/office and have a large number of items, please reach out via the contact form below to coordinate a pick-up with Dining.


Reusable Grocery Bags The pantry is always in need of reusable grocery bags. Please consider donating new or gently used (stain-free) bags during our donation drives.

Monetary DonationsIf you would like to support the Storrs Husky Harvest food pantry with a monetary donation, please visit the UConn Foundation page at www.foundation.uconn.edu/fund/uconn-storrs-campus-food-insecurity-fund

Volunteers At this time volunteers are not needed. Please consider donating from the wish list above or running your own drive with your club/org/office for the items above.


Questions – please use our contact form at dining.uconn.edu/questions-and-comments

Help spread the word on the Storrs campus: post this flyer for the Spring ’24 semester.

More information on the UConn food pantries can be found at huskyharvest.uconn.edu

Husky Harvest (Storrs) Updates: Follow UConn Dining on Facebook, Instagram, X.

Paige Bueckers, Chegg announce support for Husky Harvest in Storrs

By Kimberly Phillips

All of UConn might have their eye on Paige Bueckers this season, but the campus community is in her heart, as she and partner Chegg Inc. announce their support for the Husky Harvest food pantry that has served hundreds of Storrs students and staff since opening this spring.

“One thing we’ve learned in the last six months is that food insecurity doesn’t have boundaries,” says Michael White, executive director of UConn Dining Services. “We have students who are in crisis and are here for the short term. We have families that need formula and diapers and are here for the long term. Any partnership is invaluable to us because we need resources.”

The assistance from Bueckers and Chegg, announced today during a press conference at the pantry in the Charter Oak Apartments Community Center, will allow Husky Harvest to supplement the items it already gets from Connecticut Foodshare, which has been providing food since its inception, White says.

In the last six months, Husky Harvest Storrs has added Midwest Food Bank New England in Manchester, Big Y in Tolland, and Price Chopper in Storrs as benefactors that with Connecticut Foodshare provide most of the food and toiletries on the shelves, in the freezers, and inside refrigerators at the pantry.

“Resources that come through the UConn Foundation’s Food Insecurity Fund or direct partnership for product are essential,” White says. “For Paige to step up and make this a priority is something I commend her for. She’s an incredibly busy student-athlete with a rigorous schedule. For her to pay attention to this issue and do so here at UConn is truly amazing.”

Paige Bueckers
Courtesy of Chegg

In February 2022, Bueckers became Chegg’s first student-athlete brand ambassador, working to bring awareness to the problem of food insecurity among college students after a Chegg.org report showed 32% of college students are reporting food insecurity since the pandemic.

At UConn, a 2019 survey determined 35% of the Storrs student body was going hungry just prior to the start of the pandemic, with the rate even higher at the branch campuses. That’s one reason UConn leaders sought to establish Husky Harvests at Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford, and Waterbury, along with
the one in Storrs.

“I am so proud that we are partners with the University and helped to get this pantry up and running,” says Connecticut Foodshare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski ’99 (CLAS), ’01 MPA. “Hunger on college campuses is an issue in Connecticut and throughout the country. I am very proud that my alma mater has made the commitment to address this issue.”

In December 2022, a pop-up food pantry at UConn’s Student Union provided $10,000 worth of food for more than 500 students thanks largely to a donation from the Undergraduate Student Government.

Chegg, in March 2022, gave out 6,000 meals with partner Goodr during a free pop-up pantry in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the NCAA Final Four tournament.

“We are honored to partner with Paige to help reduce food insecurity for students. Caring for the needs of students – inside and outside the classroom – is at the core of Chegg’s mission. Through our research, advocacy, and funding of local organizations, we remain committed to combatting food insecurity among college students,” Chegg CEO and President Dan Rosensweig says. “We applaud Paige’s efforts to impact her campus community and raise awareness of the need among college students. We are proud to partner with her on this important issue and wholeheartedly embrace and support her efforts highlighting the work of the Husky Harvest.”

Filling the gaps while filling a need

White says the top items students are looking for at Husky Harvest Storrs include microwaveable macaroni and cheese or rice dishes, cereal, frozen entrees, beef stew, peanut butter, snack bars, yogurt, pasta, marinara sauce, bread and rolls, sports drinks, and cooking oils.

Recently though, he says suppliers were able to offer for free only things like COVID rapid tests, cocktail sauce, and hand sanitizer – a big difference between what’s available and what’s most needed. Also, what’s becoming a necessity is baby food and diapers, items that are rarely, if ever, found available for donation.

This means White and his staff, who he credits with doing much of the work to run the pantry, have sourced food like baked goods and produce from places like Big Y and Price Chopper. Other things that are challenging to find include toiletries like shampoo and household items like laundry detergent.

The Chegg donation will allow Husky Harvest Storrs to fill in the gaps, because what it’s doing is important. In March when the pantry opened after spring break, 195 households were served with 551 people in those homes. In April, 307 households and 340 people were helped. The pantry was open two days a week during these months.

The number dropped after the spring semester ended and its hours shifted to one day a week, with 60 households and 147 people served in May. Over the summer, June saw 40 households and 166 people helped and July had 34 households and 138 people served.

“When we first opened, we didn’t know if we’d need to be open in the summer, but we fed 138 people in July and that tells me we need to be,” White says. “We’ll continue to be open next summer with one day a week.”

But before then, in fall 2023 and spring 2024, Husky Harvest Storrs is open Mondays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Charter Oak Apartments Community Center, 916 Tower Court Road. Anyone in need and with a UConn ID can visit.

There also may be a pop-up pantry this academic year in the Student Union much like the one last December, White says, but the main point of distribution will be at Charter Oak in the space that once served as a convenience store.

And, for now, only monetary donations are being accepted for Husky Harvest Storrs. Taking food donations from community members isn’t possible, White says, because doing so requires items to be tracked for recalls and other inventory work to be done – work that Dining Services isn’t set up to do.

“There will be a point when we look to the community for additional support. Until we get there, we’re asking people to be patient and if they’re inclined to help to do so through the UConn Foundation,” White says.

Contributions to the UConn Storrs Campus Food Insecurity Fund at the UConn Foundation can be made online. Visit UConn’s Husky Harvest website for details on how to make site-specific donations to pantries at the regional campuses.

Labor Day Weekend 2023: What’s Open?

RETAIL LOCATIONS

Sunday, September 3 Monday, September 4
Union Street Market 11:30am-9pm 11:30am-9pm
Market Cafe 10am-4pm 10am-4pm
Convenience Store Noon-9pm Noon-9pm
Mango Noon-7pm (smoothies only) Noon-7pm (smoothies only)
Dairy Bar 11am-9pm 11am-9pm

DINING HALLS

Labor Day Weekend

Saturday, September 2nd & Sunday, September 3rd

Normal hours of operation.

Labor Day

Monday, September 4th

Breakfast: 7am-10:30am (South Dining Hall open)
Brunch: 10:30am-2:15pm (All Dining Halls Open)
Dinner: 4pm-7:15pm (All Dining Halls Open)

*Late Night: McMahon & Northwest will be open until 10pm

Dining hall hours during holidays/breaks can be viewed in advance at dining.uconn.edu/hours

Husky Harvest Food Pantry on the Storrs campus will be closed on Monday. The pantry will reopen on Thursday, Sept 7th from 11am-4pm.

Move-In 2023: What’s Open?

We’re excited to welcome new and returning Huskies to campus for the fall semester! During move-in, our retail locations and dining halls will have modified hours. All locations will be open beginning August 28th. Review current and upcoming hours at dining.uconn.edu/hours or check out move-in details below.

Here are a few reminders for the fall semester:

  • GUESTS IN THE DINING HALLS: Guests are welcome in the dining halls. Students can admit guests with flex passes, points, and Husky Bucks. Don’t forget your OneCard! Guests can also pay for a meal with credit/debit.
  • CHANGE MEAL PLAN: Students have until Friday, September 15, 2023, to upgrade or downgrade their residential meal plan.
  • DINING HALLS WILL BE BUSY: During the first couple weeks of classes the dining halls can be quite busy and there may be long lines as new students tend to travel together in groups to activities and meals around the same time. We appreciate your patience as our staff works hard to serve thousands of meals every day.
  • DOWNLOAD THE myUConn APP: Get easy access to our daily menus, hours, notifications, & more via the myUConn app.
  • FLEX PASSES & POINTS: Learn more about using your flex passes and points.
  • STAY INFORMED – follow us on Instagram @uconndining or Facebook at @uconndiningservices
  • Need help finding our locations?: Click here for a dining locations map

 

 

 

Storrs Food Pantry Fall Hours

 

Husky Harvest food pantry on the Storrs campus will begin fall semester hours on August 28th.

The pantry will be open:

Mondays: 11am-4pm
Thursdays: 11am-4pm

Husky Harvest will be closed for the following holidays:

Closed Monday 9/4 Labor Day, open Thursday 9/7 that week.
Closed Thursday 11/23 Thanksgiving.

The pantry is available to anyone with a UConn ID and is located in the Charter Oak Apartments Community Center. Parking spots are available nearby for pantry guests.

At this time the Storrs pantry is not accepting food donations. Financial donations can be made through the UConn Foundation’s Food Insecurity Fund. Those who wish to volunteer can sign up via UConntact.

huskyharvest.uconn.edu/

FACULTY/STAFF: If you would like to print a Fall 2023 flyer for your office/department click here.

July Holiday Closures

Retail Locations Closed July 3-9

Union Street Market, C-Store, Market Cafe, Beanery Cafe, & Food Truck. Food Truck will also be closed on June 30th.

Closed on July 4th

  • Putnam Dining Hall
  • Dairy Bar
  • Mort’s Cafe – Avery Point

Husky Harvest Food Pantry – Storrs

Closed on July 3rd. Open July 5th, 11am-4pm.

Farm Fresh Market – closed July 6


Union Street Market will be closed from July 17th-August 18th. During this time One Plate, Two Plates will be open; Monday through Friday from 10:30am-2:30pm

Storrs Campus Food Pantry Open for Summer

The Husky Harvest food pantry on the Storrs campus is open this summer from 11am-4pm on Mondays.
Open to anyone with a UConn ID. No appointment is necessary.
Summer holiday closure updates:
-Closed Monday, June 19th – open Wednesday, June 21st
-Closed Monday, July 3rd | Open Wednesday, July 5th

LOCATION: Charter Oak Apartments Community Center
916 Tower Court Road, Storrs, CT 06268

PHONE: 860-486-3918

STORRS PANTRY UPDATES: Please follow UConn Dining on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram