SEEDS

Office for Institutional Diversity

Reed Community Pantry

The Reed Community Pantry (RCP) is part of Reed College’s Basic Needs Initiative. The RCP provides fresh and nonperishable food items, toiletries, hygiene products, and more at no cost to members of the Reed community. This resource is open to Reed students, faculty, and staff.

Welcome to the RCP!

Location

Gray Campus Center (GCC) Lower Level Room 042

Fall 2023 Hours

  • Mondays: 10am-12pm, 1pm-3pm
  • Tuesdays: 11am-12pm, 2pm-4pm, 5pm-7pm
  • Wednesdays: 12pm-2pm, 3pm-5pm
  • Thursdays: 3pm-5pm
  • Fridays - Sundays: CLOSED

*Hours adjust every semester and during breaks.  The RCP will close when the campus is closed. Opening hours are subject to change due to volunteer availability or any unforeseen circumstances. Visit SEEDS's Instagram for updates or email communitypantry@reed.edu.
 

Get RCP Notifications!

Join the "Reed Community Pantry Notifications" Google Group to receive notifications with your Reed email!  Guests who have filled out a waiver before will be added to the notication Google Group automatically.
 

Monetary Donations

The Reed Community Pantry is part of a cross-campus effort to ensure that everyone in our community has access to the resources they need to learn and thrive. You can donate money to the RCP by making a direct donation on Reed’s giving page. When you fill out your giving details, mark that your gift is for Reed’s "Basic Needs Initiative". 

Donations from students, alumni, parents, and friends are the most flexible way to contribute to the RCP. 100% of your support enables us to purchase food items, hygiene products, and other necessary supplies—by pooling the funds we have available, the RCP is able to make purchases at a lower cost and stock our shelves with in-demand items. 

Thank you for being part of an ecosystem of mutual support at Reed. 

Donation Guide

We accept food and basic needs supply donations!  Food and basic needs supply items must be unopened, not expired, and individually wrapped, the RCP team will reject/dispose of items that do not follow the donation guide.  You can bring your donation during open hours or drop them off in our donation bin at the RCP.  Contact communitypantry@reed.edu for bulk and/or fresh/perishable donations, or if you have any questions.  

What we ACCEPT:

  • Non-perishable food items
  • Fresh/perishable items (ex: garden harvest, must be packed and labeled with description and date. The RCP will only accept fresh/perishable items in person, and will dispose fresh/perishable items left outside of the RCP.)
  • Toiletry items 
  • Cleaning supplies
  • First-aid supplies
  • Dozen-egg cartons
  • Used/reusable shopping bags

What we DON'T ACCEPT:

  • Opened food items

  • Clothing/appliances: Reed's Sustainability Coordinator operates the Swap Shop next to the RCP.  The Swap Shop hosts Stuff Swaps at the end of every semester for students to donate and take used items.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does someone access the services provided by the Reed Community Pantry?

The RCP has weekly hours posted through campus email, social media, and flyers. We strive to offer as many open pantry hours as possible. We also strive to provide a judgment-free zone. Any Reed community member (with a Reed ID/Reed email) can access the RCP during our open hours.  RCP guests are required to complete a waiver and optional demographic survey before shopping, any data collected will only be used for institutional data evaluation and guests personal information will remain private.

Who manages the Reed Community Pantry?

  • SEEDS Program Director
  • SEEDS Reed Community Pantry Coordinators
  • RCP Volunteers

Who can use the Reed Community Pantry?

All current Reed students, staff, and faculty are eligible to access the RCP (with Reed ID/Reed email). 

Where does the pantry get food and other supplies?

The pantry is stocked with food and supplies purchased with financial contributions from the Basic Needs Initiative and direct donations from Reed community members.  The RCP team and volunteers shop from local grocery stores and online vendors to ensure essential food and supplies are regularly stocked.

How can I donate to the Basic Needs Initiative? What types of donations are accepted?

Anyone can donate to the Basic Needs Initiative and support the RCP by making a direct donation on Reed’s giving page. When you fill out your giving details, select "Basic Needs Initiative".

How do I contribute non-perishable food items and/or supplies?

Contributions can be dropped off at the pantry during regularly scheduled open hours. Those wishing to make a donation outside of scheduled open hours can contact the RCP team to coordinate. Due to limited space and staffing, we can only accept food and supply items that are new, unopened, and unexpired.  Perishable and opened food items left at the RCP without notice will be thrown away due to food safety concerns.  See the donation guide above for more information.

Can I contribute fresh and perishable food or leftover food from events?

Please contact the RCP team in advance if you want to donate fresh and perishable food items, such as harvest from a farm or leftover food items from an event.  The RCP will accept donations of limited quantities of perishable food that are packaged and labeled with a description and packing date.  See the donation guide above for more information.

Another suggestion is to share a brief post on/tag any Reed community social media, the post should include the location of the food and how long it will be available.

When planning catered events, consider requesting to-go containers (Bon Appetit catering can provide these at a minimal cost) or bringing disposable containers for participants to take leftover food with them. 

How do I donate extra board points?

Toward the end of each semester, students will be able to donate their extra board points to the RCP via this link.  The donated board points will be used for purchasing bulk food items for the RCP.

Students can also use their extra board points to purchase items at the Bon Appetite yard sale at the end of the academic year and donate the items directly to the RCP.

Another way to donate board points is to utilize Bon Appetite's mobile ordering app to order perishable and/or non-perishable food items for pick up and donate by dropping the items off at the RCP directly.

What programs are available outside of Reed to support people with food insecurity?

Food Resources near Reed and SE Portland Guide by the RCP team.

Oregon Food Bank has a searchable database that shows a list of all nearby food assistance resources, including prepared meals and food pantries.

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) provides Oregon food assistance benefits. 211 Info can help people apply for SNAP and connect those eligible to other supplementary food assistance programs like farm direct vouchers, nutrition education, and resources to help people grow their own food.