Cal Poly Food Pantry
About The Food Pantry
The Cal Poly Food Pantry feeds the Mustang community. We believe everyone deserves access to fresh nutritious food. The Food Pantry has a robust inventory from a wide variety of packaged and canned foods, fresh produce, frozen meals, and personal hygiene items, such as diapers and menstrual products.
The Cal Poly Food Pantry is open Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 6pm. For open and available pantries on weekends in the SLO area, please click here: Local Pantries open over the weekend.
In addition to the onsite Food Pantry, San Luis Obispo community members can receive fresh groceries at Cal Poly during the monthly SLO Food Bank food distributions thanks to the partnership with SLO Food Bank. Individuals can learn more about the food distributions, including the specific dates on the SLO Food Bank website or Cal Poly Community members can view the calendar on Cal Poly Now.
FAQs
Location
Campus Health & Wellbeing
Building 27, Room 10, Lower Level (Wellbeing Services) accessed by the ramp near the rock climbing wall at the Rec Center.
Phone: 805-756-7818
Hours for Cal Poly Students
The Cal Poly Food Pantry is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 6:00PM. December 16-24, the Food Pantry will close at 5:00PM. We are CLOSED December 25-January 1 and will reopen for regular hours on January 2nd.
The Food Pantry is re-stocked throughout the week and individuals can expect a robust assortment of fresh produce, shelf-stable items, and personal hygiene items such as diapers and menstrual products.
Hours for Cal Poly Employees
Cal Poly Employees can access the Pantry on Fridays during usual operating hours of 8:30AM to 6:00PM. December 16-24, the Food Pantry will close at 5:00PM. We are CLOSED December 25-January 1 and will reopen for regular hours on January 2nd.
Accessing the Cal Poly Food Pantry
All are welcome to access the Food Pantry! There is no eligibility criteria at the Food Pantry as we believe all Mustangs deserve access to fresh, nutritious food. Individuals who are seeking immediate or urgent assistance for food can inform any member of the Food Pantry Fellows, the student team managing the space, to be connected to additional, high-impact food resources such as Meal Vouchers and CalFresh.
Partnerships with the Food Pantry
The Food Pantry welcomes partnership opportunities! The Food Pantry currently partners with CollegeCorps, SLO Food Bank, Cal Poly Crops unit, Student Experimental Farm, CalFresh, Student Diversity and Belonging, Dean of Students, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Educational Outreach Program (EOP), TRiO Achievers, and more! Interested in partnering for an event? Contact Hannah Steen, Basic Needs Coordinator, at hasteen@calpoly.edu or 805-756-1045.
Where does the food come from?
The majority of the food in the Cal Poly Food Pantry comes from the SLO Food Bank, where the Cal Poly Food Pantry is a regulated, agency partner. Local produce is supplied weekly from the Cal Poly Crops unit. The Food Pantry also participates in a food rescue program with Sprouts, Grocery Outlet, and Food 4 Less Grocery Stores in San Luis Obispo. Lastly, community members are welcome to donate to the Food Pantry and as a result, there is a robust inventory of food and personal hygiene items.
Volunteer Opportunities with the Food Pantry
Due to our partnership with the CollegeCorps program and the Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity, the Food Pantry does not currently have any volunteer availability.
Ways to support the Food Pantry
Donate to the Food Pantry Support Fund
Monetary donations are the most effective way to support the food pantry. The funds allow our staff to purchase food items often at below cost from subsidized sources, such as the SLO Food Bank.
Shop our Amazon Wish list
Food Pantry staff have curated an Amazon wish list. The wishlist automatically populates delivery instructions and typically takes about 2-4 days to be delivered on site.
Donate Food Items
The Food Pantry also welcomes donations of unopened foods and hygiene items, and school supplies. Donated items can be dropped off at the Food Pantry anytime during open hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Your help is needed to support our mission to feed the Mustang community – so please donate today!
For questions regarding donating to the Food Pantry, contact Taffy Gonzalez, Food Pantry Coordinator: tgonza20@calpoly.edu