Student Food Pantry
The Delta College Student Food Pantry exists to provide food for students under financial stress, helping them stay focused on their academic success. It helps ensure that all students have access to adequate food – regardless of their economic situation.
The student food pantry is offering expanded services
Available now through the end of the winter 2022 semester:
-
- Family Food Box with gift cards
- We are adding store gift cards to our Family Food boxes! Students will be able to select a retailer gift card from a list of options; these cards will help students purchase food items we cannot provide, such as milk, bread, fresh produce, meat, etc. (limit one family food box per week per student).
- Meal vouchers for the Red Brix Café’
- Students can opt to receive a voucher for a hot meal at Delta’s own Red Brix Café during normal business hours. This option can be chosen once per week per student.
- Lunch bags will continue to be available.
- Snacks at the Centers
- Ask staff at the Downtown Midland and Downtown Saginaw Centers about the snacks!
- Family Food Box with gift cards
All students seeking Pantry services must schedule a time to pick up their items through Pioneer Connect. Students without a reservation will be asked to complete one before receiving services.
Pick-up locations
You will have to show a picture ID to receive services.
Main Campus
-
- Food boxes reserved at Main campus
- Pick up at Public Safety, N Wing (directly across from the east main entrance – between Kand L Wings)
- Lunch bags reserved at Main campus
- Pick up at Pioneer Connect, D102
- Meal vouchers, only available and redeemable at Main campus
- Pick up at Pioneer Connect, D102
- Food boxes reserved at Main campus
Centers
-
- Food boxes and lunch bags reserved at the Downtown Centers
- Pick up at the center where you made the reservation. See a staff member for assistance.
- Snacks at the Centers, only available at the Downtown Midland and Downtown Saginaw
Centers
- Ask staff for details.
- Food boxes and lunch bags reserved at the Downtown Centers
If you are in need of additional assistance, please see the additional resources provided below. Information is included for area food pantries and meal centers/soup kitchens as well as links to other needed resources such as housing, clothing, household items, etc.
Please reach out to foodpantry@delta.edu with questions or if you need assistance navigating available resources.
How it works
To receive food from the pantry, students must present their Delta student ID card. Students will also be required to complete an intake form. The Food Pantry does not collect personal information. All information provided is kept confidential.
The maximum amount of food a student can receive in a one-month period is a total of ten bags (a combination of lunch bags and no more than four family food boxes or large, pre-packaged bags).
Donating to the Food Pantry
Donations are accepted at A003 during office hours. Non-perishable, non-expired food, gift cards to local grocery stores, or monetary donations are accepted. Checks may be made payable to Delta College with "Student Food Pantry" in the memo line. Delta employees may sign up for automatic payroll deduction. Donations are tax-deductible and a receipt will be issued.
The most requested items are:
-
- Pasta, such as spaghetti, elbow, shells
- Protein, granola and cereal bars
- Pasta sauce
- Flavored rice and noodle pouches
- Canned meats, such as chicken, tuna, Vienna sausage
- Ramen noodles in packages and cups
- Canned fruits, vegetables, and beans
- Cheese or Peanut Butter cracker combo packs
- Pudding, Jello, fruit and applesauce cups
-
- Microwaveable popcorn
- Peanuts and nuts in single-serve packages
- Microwaveable meals, such as ravioli, Spaghettio's, beef stew, pop-top soups, mac & cheese
- Meat sticks/jerky in single-serve packages
- Peanut butter
- Breakfast items such as oatmeal packets/bowls, poptarts, cereal bowls
- Beverages, such as on-the-go drink mixes, juice boxes, sports beverages
Food pantries and distribution
-
- Find a Food Pantry
Includes mass food distribution, mobile pantry distribution and summer programs
in 22 Michigan counties. - Hidden Harvest
Has shared more than 38 million pounds of healthy and nutritious food items with
hunger relief agencies in the Great Lakes Bay Region since 1994. - Bay County Food Distribution
List of Food Resources throughout the county - Midland County Emergency Food Pantry Network
A list of pantries and info about upcoming mobile pantries. - Saginaw, MI Free Food Resources
A list of many resources available in Saginaw County. - FoodPantries.org and FreeFood.org
Provides information for counties outside Bay, Midland and Saginaw. - Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
Serving Bay, Midland, Saginaw and 19 surrounding counties. - Food Bank Council of Michigan
Search for additional options in Michigan.
- Find a Food Pantry
Meal centers and soup kitchens
-
- East Side Soup Kitchen, Genesee Ave., Saginaw
- Old Town Christian Outreach Center, Gratiot Ave., Saginaw
- Samaritas, Federal Ave., Saginaw
- Saginaw Community Christian Reformed Church, Mackinaw Rd., Saginaw
- Safe Harbor Kitchen, Joseph St., Bay City
- Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church, S. Catherine St., Bay City
- Salvation Army, 10th St., Bay City
- Trinity Episcopal Church, N. Grant St., Bay City
- Midland’s Open Door, Buttles St., Midland
- First United Methodist Church, W. Larkin St., Midland
Other services and resources
-
- www.mi211.org is a free and confidential referral and information helpline and website. Dial 211 to speak with a live and highly-trained service professional, text your zip code to 898211, or go to www.mi211.org.
- MiBridges is an online site that connects you to resources specific to your location, needs and circumstances. If you apply, you may be eligible for benefits such as healthcare coverage; food assistance; child development & care; cash assistance; WIC; and/or state emergency relief funding.
- Delta College Counseling Services provides brief, crisis and career counseling. Services are voluntary and confidential.
- Homeless Shelters Directory is available to find shelters in your city.
- ChooseMyPlate provides practical information to individuals to help build healthier diets.
- Creating an Affordable Healthy Diet That Works for You provides help developing a diet and budget that works for you, with recipes and resources to help you reach your goals.
- How to Find Food Security Support and Hunger Assistance Resources Learn more about food insecurity, who is experiencing it and where you and your family can turn to if you find yourself facing this challenge.