Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry
Thompson Student Center, Ground Floor, Next to the Post Office
Email: wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu
Hours: Please visit this page for a detailed list of hours.
WSSU's Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry strives to do its part in assuring that no currently enrolled WSSU students goes hungry and that every student has access to nutritious food.
Food provided here is offered free of charge as an act of community service. Participation is voluntary. Neither Winston-Salem State University nor its volunteers guarantees the safety, quality, or nutritional value of any food provided. By accepting food, recipients agree to assume all risk associated with its use.
**No student fees are used to fund the Pantry.**
Currently enrolled WSSU students can access the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry to obtain items needed for free.
If a student cannot come to the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry during normal operating hours, they should send an email to wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu to coordinate a time to visit the Pantry.
Summary
- Visit the Student Resource Center to see what we have available. Some items may be limited in quantity based on their availability.
- Check in with a volunteer, go shopping for your items, and complete the check-out form.
Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Our staff will be checking emails Monday through Friday for messages.
What Do I Do on Days When the Food Pantry is Closed?
For those who cannot access it during normal operating hours, email wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu outlining available the times and dates they can come to the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry.
If Inclement Weather Occurs, What Should I Do?
The WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry will follow the university inclement weather policy, unless otherwise noted. If you are aware of inclement weather nearing and you are low on food resources, please submit an email to wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu to coordinate a time to visit the Pantry.
Any currently enrolled WSSU student can access the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry once they register for the program. Currently enrolled WSSU students can access the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry to obtain items needed. Please complete the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry user Form or contact us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu with any questions.
How Does the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry Work?
- Visit the Student Resource Center to see what we have available. Some items may be limited in quantity based on their availability.
- Check in with a volunteer, go shopping for your items, and complete the check-out form.
- Once a student comes to the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry, a volunteer will then assist the student in gathering their items.
- If adverse weather occurs or an emergency, please contact the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu.
- If you need additional resources, please email us to see if we can assist you.
Available Food Items
Canned Meats/Protein
- Tuna/Salmon
- Chicken/Pork
- Canned beans
- Peanut butter and jelly
Canned Stews & Soups
- Chili
- Beef stew
- Spaghetti O's
- Ravioli
- Soups
Grains, Pasta & Sauces
- Cereal
- Oatmeal
- Macaroni and cheese
- Spaghetti & spaghetti sauce
Canned Vegetables
- Green beans/corn
- Collards
- Mixed vegetables
- Potatoes
Canned Fruits
- Peaches
- Pears
- Fruit cocktail
- Applesauce
Other Items
- Menstrual products
- Laundry detergent
- Dish soap
- Toothpaste and tooth brushes/dental floss
If you have specific dietary restrictions and our products do not meet your required needs, please contact us to let us know how we can further assist you. Our items are donation-based, so we cannot guarantee we will have all items requested.
Another resource to best guide students in gaining information they need to make healthier choices is The Student's Guide to Nutrition created by BestColleges.com. This guide assist students in making healthier food choices based off of the food groups and better understand the appropriate sugar intake individuals should have to live a happy and healthy life.
Volunteer
We welcome any person and organization that would like to volunteer with the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry! Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. Anyone who wants to volunteer at the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry must be briefed on our process and guidelines.
Students - any volunteer work done with the Food Pantry counts toward your service hours!
Volunteer training is quick and can be done on an individual basis or done as a group. Please email us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu to learn about volunteering for the Food Pantry.
If you are part of an organization and would like to help, email us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu to talk about how you can be involved.
Some of the ways that classes, individuals, and groups can help with volunteering include:
- Holding food drives and making donations (both food and monetary).
- Holding information sessions in classrooms, lectures, and residence halls about the Food Pantry and ways to help.
Donate
The Allegacy Student Resource Center is always seeking donations for our students to use. Please check this List for our ongoing needs.
We now have an Amazon Wish List! View this list to see what we need and when you make a purchase, the items will come directly to us. This is an easy way to help our students and feel good bathe same time.
To receive tax credit for your donations, please be sure to complete this Form.
Donations can be brought to the SRC in the Thompson Student Center during any normal open hours, or by contacting us at wssuhelpinghands@wssu.edu.
You can also ship items to the SRC at this address:
Office of the Dean of Students
601 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Thompson Center, Suite 303
Winston-Salem, NC 27110
WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry strives to do its part in assuring that no currently enrolled WSSU students goes hungry and that every student has access to nutritious food. In addition, the Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry promotes community engagement and education about food insecurity, community health, and fosters university-community partnership.
Food insecurity, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is having “limited or uncertain access to nutritious, safe foods necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle." Based on a poll that was conducted under the Office of Dean of Students in September 2015, 57% of WSSU students who were polled, claimed to have gone without food because of a lack of funds.
WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry is staffed by student interns, volunteers, and leaders trained to provide caring and compassionate service, to be respectful to all, and to maintain the confidentiality of those who use the food pantry. The initiative is a collaboration between students, the Office of the Dean of Students, and regional/national corporate sponsors. 100% of the original products gifted to the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry were donated by Food Lion, Inc.
