CU Boulder’s mobile food pantries meet growing demand amid grocery inflation

With the rise of grocery prices over the last year, food banks saw an increased need among their communities. CU Boulder’s Basic Needs Center offered relief by distributing 84,220 pounds of food at its monthly mobile food pantries during the 2022-23 academic year. 

With a community focus, the pantries supply food for students, faculty, staff and community members in Boulder and Broomfield counties. Each monthly food pantry typically has over 300 attendees, and the team distributes around 10,000 pounds of food within two hours. These accessible, high-impact events align with the Basic Needs Center’s goal to support those experiencing food insecurity within the CU and the larger Boulder communities.

Impact of the mobile food pantries

The mobile food pantries are unique since they serve a wider group of people than the Buff Pantry on campus, which only serves the student population. In the 2022-23 academic year, the Basic Needs Center held eight events with 2,683 visitors.

The Basic Needs Center staff said they have seen a 10% increase in the food distributed at the mobile food pantries over the last year compared to previous years. Opening the Basic Needs Center in the fall of 2022 helped increase outreach efforts. There is now a larger team to reach out to students and the community.

The majority of the winter and spring pantries were held indoors this year in partnership with Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church. Several of last year’s outdoor events were canceled due to weather. Finding an indoor location that could host the events was a great accomplishment. Not only could people benefit from the food distribution, but they had a warm place to hang out and get groceries. 

Mobile food pantries had a significant impact on staff. Out of the total 2,683 visitors to the mobile food pantry, 1,098 were staff. “Our staff doesn’t have access to the Buff Pantry, so the impact of the mobile food pantries is the greatest with that group since we can serve them in ways that our other programming doesn’t,” said Maddie Atuire, Feed the Stampede coordinator.

Volunteer at a mobile food pantry

The mobile food pantries offer members of the CU Boulder community an excellent opportunity to volunteer. Students, faculty and staff can sign up individually or as a group. Volunteers must be able to lift up to 30 pounds but do not need to complete volunteer orientation. 

“I’m the volunteer coordinator, so it’s great to see the community come together from students to faculty and staff. There are 30 to 35 people here just to support today’s drive. That’s really my favorite part, just seeing people come together,” said Brady Churchville, the Buff Pantry volunteer coordinating student assistant at a recent mobile food pantry. 

If you are interested in volunteering at a mobile food pantry, you can sign up for one of the events this summer or participate next fall. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, meet new people and gain experience.