Spartan Food Pantry

The Spartan Food Pantry is a walk-in, full-service, staffed, food assistance program offering non-perishable goods, fresh produce, and refrigerated items to eligible students.

Volunteer info in FAQs

No student should have to face food insecurity. We define those in need as students who have limited or uncertain access to nutritious and safe foods because of a lack of money and other resources.

Much of our food provided is donated in partnership with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. View our donation guidelines for ways to support us.

The Spartan Food Pantry is open for Fall 2023 beginning Monday, August 21!

Fall 2023 Hours

Monday-Friday

10:00am-5:00pm 

Location:

Diaz Compean Student Union (exterior entrance across from Engineering Rotunda). 

Fall 2023 Eligibility:

• Currently enrolled in Fall 2023 courses
• Currently experiencing hunger/food insecurity
• Must have an annual income of $34,263* or less (no documentation required)
• Must bring your Tower ID & reusable bag(s) every time you visit the pantry. If you do not have your Tower ID you should inform the Bursar's Office you need it to access the pantry.

How Spartan Food Pantry Works 

Step 1: Check In

• Complete the Spartan Food Pantry Intake & Agreement Form (this can be done in advance or via scanning a QR code on your personal phone on site). Must be completed before the first visit of each academic year.  

• Check in (staff scan your SJSU Tower ID card verifying you are currently enrolled). Staff will ask and record your name, address, family size, first per month, and if it's a repeat visit. (Some questions are for USDA reporting purposes).

Step 2: Shop

• Grab a basket and shop for items within our zones. All items are based on availability. We'll let you know if there are any limits per zone on that day.
  • Fresh Produce Zone
  • Dry Goods Zone
  • Cool Zone
  • Toiletries & More Zone
• For health reasons, only touch what you will take.
• Some high-demand items have quantity limits so we can ensure all students get an opportunity to select. Some grant-purchased items are limited to the eligible student (not family use). Always ask if you need more of any item, remembering you can return each calendar week.

Step 3: Check Out

• Bring basket back to counter to check out with staff
• Bag items (in re-usable bag you've brought).

We highly encourage students to ask a staff member or look online if they don't know how to prepare a food. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

• How can I volunteer?

  • SJSU students, affiliates, and community members are welcome to volunteer. 

    Volunteer positions help keep our pantry running by assisting with tasks such as stocking/inventory management, cleaning, student check-in/out, compost trips, etc. Volunteers can only sign up for one shift per day.

    1) It's easy to View Opportunities & Sign Up using a Google/gmail account. Use the Volunteer Selection link to find a volunteer spot that you can fulfill. Clicking SAVE will reserve your spot and place it on your Google calendar automatically.

    That is your confirmation; we do not send additional confirmations or reminders. We anticipate seeing you at the time/date you select.

    2) Complete our Volunteer Waiver Agreement online as soon as you sign up. The waiver is good for the entire year.

    3) Watch this Volunteer Orientation Video before arriving.

     

    Volunteers must be able and willing to:
    •Be in good health the day of their shifts  
    •Stay home if you feel OR think you may be sick. 
    •Wear pants, closed toe shoes; appropriate and clean attire
    •Be able to wear latex gloves
    •Control longer hair; If hair is shoulder length or longer, hair must be in a ponytail  
    •Ability to lift, move and/ or carry up to 50 pounds; push 100 pounds on a cart
    •Follow provided food and personal safety guidelines
    •Adhere to privacy and confidentiality guidelines while embodying a socially just environment for student participants to feel welcome
    •Volunteer for the full shift
    

    •Be prepared for current outdoor weather; some volunteer roles may be outside

     

    General questions or group volunteering please email sjsucares@sjsu.edu.

     

    Non-Affiates/Community Members: Complete required Volunteer Self-Certification of Vaccination Status Form before volunteering. 

    Besides volunteering, there are other ways you can give assistance. 

• What do I need to know about USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) Requirements? 

  • In June 2020 the Spartan Food Pantry became part of the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).  

    Staff may ask and record information such as your name, address, family size, first per month, and if it's a repeat visit on a EFA-7 form. You providing this information to staff acknowledges your consent to share this information with Second Harvest of Silicon Valley. 

    Second Harvest is using TEFAP so that we can continue to distribute food to eligible students.

    Please see our poster at the pantry for more information on non-discrimination statements.

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

    Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

    Cơ sở này là nơi cung cấp cơ hội bình đẳng.

• How often can students come to the pantry?

  • Eligible students are permitted to come to the pantry once per calendar week.

• What should I know about expiration dates?

  • There are multiple types of dates (best by, use by, produced on, etc.) associated with food products in the U.S. Most consumers do not know the difference. If you have questions, please ask a staff member or review information available from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley or the USDA.

    Most foods are safe to eat much longer than product dates. See handouts in the pantry for recommendations. 

• Do I need to have my Tower ID on me?

  • Yes. Students without a Tower ID might not be able to be served. If you are a currently enrolled student who has permanently misplaced your ID card, contact the Bursar's Office for a replacement.

    Get more info on the Tower ID card.

• Will the pantry track my volunteer hours? Who can sign off on completed hours?
  • It is the responsibility of the volunteer to track their own hours. If you are part of a program that has a requirement/timesheet/documentation please be sure to have that with you. Check-in with the person who is requiring you to do hours for a timesheet form or create your own.  Know that the Basic Need Coordinator(BNC) will sign your hours off, not the student staff in the pantry.  
     
    So please plan accordingly.  Email sjsucares@sjsu.edu in advance so they can review your hours prior to your arrival; provide # of hours you were required, any deadlines you have, and dates/times you have volunteered. 
    
     
    Many students volunteer for their own fulfillment and therefore do not need any verification/signatures. 
• How many students use the pantry?
  • SJSU Cares posts Monthly Usage Statistics for the Spartan Food Pantry. Many factors including semester breaks, students moves, and the pandemic affect numbers; so averages are not always the best figure to share. 
• How did the pantry get started?
  • More information on the history of the Student Hunger Committee, early food shelf efforts, monthly distributions and more can be found on the "Data & Reports" page of the SJSU Cares website.  Our public proposal to university administrators is also a great synopsis.  

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*Income limits are set by US Government at 235% of the Federal Poverty Line. $2,855.25 monthly for individuals of a household of 1; add $1,006.59 each per additional household member. Please ask if you have questions.