UMass Amherst to Partner with Amherst Survival Center on Campus Food Pantry

AMHERST — UMass Amherst is forging a long-term partnership with the Amherst Survival Center to establish and run a food pantry on the UMass Amherst campus, the university announced. The pantry will be open to university students and employees experiencing food insecurity.

The pantry, scheduled to open in fall 2025, will be located at 472 North Pleasant St. in Amherst, in the building that formerly housed the Newman Catholic Center, which relocated to a new facility in 2023. The new space will boast ample storage and refrigeration capabilities, easy access by car and bus, and a welcoming environment for pantry shoppers to select from non-perishable and fresh foods, provided by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, direct donations, as well as purchased items.

As National Hunger Action Month comes to a close, this commitment from UMass Amherst is a recognition that hunger on college campuses is a harsh reality. Nationally, one in three college students face food insecurity. As a community, UMass Amherst believes no one, particularly on campus, should go hungry.

“This partnership with the Amherst Survival Center to address food insecurity among our students represents our campus’s deep commitment to fostering a living-learning environment where our economically disadvantaged students are supported as they strive to achieve their educational goals,” UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes said. “I am deeply grateful to our students for their relentless advocacy to address this urgent need. This food pantry will have a significant, positive impact on our community.”

The North Pleasant Street location will act as a hub for the Dean of Students Office basic needs initiative, centralizing access to the pantry as well as other campus services, such as the Student Care Supply Closet and the student-run Food Recovery Network, which recovers leftover food from university dining halls and donates it to individuals experiencing food insecurity.

“We want college students focusing on their studies, not worrying about where they will get their next meal, so we are excited to partner with UMass to meet this critical need,” said Lev BenEzra, executive director of the Amherst Survival Center. “The Center has seen skyrocketing levels of need over the past few years, including from UMass students, both on campus and off. This on-campus pantry will serve more students, and serve them better, as it can be tailored to meet their unique needs. I truly applaud the university’s investment in this work and the efforts of the many student leaders who have brought us to this point.”