Within its first month, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s first-ever food pantry has already helped 115 people and households, with no end in sight.

About 40 requests were made the first week the pantry opened. Since then, there have been about 25 requests per week.

“We have served a lot of students and staff, but we know that there are people in the campus community who are still not aware that the pantry is open,” said Betsy Hart, assistant director of the Community Connection Center.

Available to all UALR students, faculty, and staff in need of assistance, the pantry is open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Thursday. The hours have been extended to accommodate staff who get off work at 2 p.m.

If participants cannot pick up food at the scheduled time, an appointment may be set up through email at pantry@ualr.edu or by calling 501-569-8292.

Food pantry participants must fill out a one-time form online or in person at the pantry and a weekly food request form. A three-day supply of food is provided to participants once a week based on the items chosen on their food request form.

The Community Connection Center is leading the food pantry effort with the help of Student Government Association, Chancellor’s Leadership Corps, Staff Senate, and other campus partners, including the employee annual campaign.

Currently, the pantry has only non-perishable items. Hart hopes to eventually obtain refrigerated foods, fresh vegetables, and fruits.

The pantry is run on a day-to-day basis by UALR student volunteers.

Monetary donations are always preferred, allowing the pantry to purchase discounted food from the Arkansas Foodbank, making donations go further. Monetary donations can be dropped off at the Community Connection Center or online by clicking here and designating the donation to “UALR Trojan Food Pantry.”

The pantry currently has volunteer opportunities on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Help is needed with stocking and organizing shelves and picking up donations, among many other tasks. Click here to register and sign up for a shift.

For more information, visit https://ualr.edu/foodpantry. A list of most needed items is on the website. The pantry is currently low on strawberry and grape jelly. Food donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

• UALR Community Connection Center
• UALR Office of Campus Life
• Ottenheimer Library
• People also may e-mail pantry@ualr.edu, and a volunteer will pick up the donations