Lend-A-Wing Pantry

Resources

• Community Resources
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest federal nutrition assistance program. SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Most SNAP eligibility rules apply to all households, but there are some special rules for students attending an institution of higher education.
    • Click here for more information.
     
  • Sulzbacher Center
    • The Sulzbacher Center provides comprehensive services for homeless men, women and children. The center’s mission is “To empower homeless and at risk women, children and men through health, housing and income services thereby restoring hope and self-sufficiency.”
    • Call the Sulzbacher Center at (904) 359–0457.
     
  •  Catholic Charities Food Pantry
    • Catholic Charities Jacksonville has served the local community as a compassionate helper, respected leader, and a reliable partner. Our fundamental belief is that we have a responsibility to care for those in need by meeting basic human needs, restoring dignity, and assisting toward self-sufficiency.
    • Call Catholic Charities at (904)354-4846
     
  • Clara White Mission
    • The mission of the Clara White Mission is to prevent and reduce homelessness thorough advocacy, housing, job training and employment, working in partnership with the community. Our programs are all united in our goal to assist at-risk individuals return to dignity and productivity.
    • Call the Clara White Mission at (904)354-4162.
     
  • Drug & Alcohol Support Groups
    • Alcoholics Anonymous
    • Narcotics Anonymous
     
  • Please refer to these other amazing resources available to the Jacksonville community listed below:
    • BEAM
    • Feeding Northeast Florida
    • Jewish Family & Community Services
• UNF Resources
  • University Police Department
    • The UNF Police Department should be contacted if the student’s behavior constitutes an immediate health or safety threat to themselves or others or is in violation of the law. Call the non-emergency line at (904) 620–2800.
     
  • Office of the Dean of Students
    • The Office of the Dean of Students serves as consultants for faculty/staff who have concerns about students they teach or with whom they work, provide assistance to students during major personal or family emergencies, and provides access to and coordination of services to help students who lack a fixed residence so that they can remain enrolled and succeed academically.
     
  • Student Accessibility Center (SAC)
    • SAC coordinates and ensures services and accommodations for registered students with disabilities as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act.
     
  • Counseling Center
    • The Counseling Center provides mental health services to the university community, including: assessment and referral, individual, group counseling and crisis intervention to currently enrolled UNF students; consultation and outreach services to faculty, staff, parents, and students.
     
  • LGBTQ Center
    • The LGBTQ Center (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender) provides valuable education and resources for the entire campus community with a commitment to advocacy, equality, respect, and support for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff.
• Lend-a-Wing Data on Serving Students

  During the 2022-2023 academic year:

  • $47,500 was raised for Lend-A-Wing including support from the Florida Blue Foundation, The Jim Moran Foundation, Publix Super Market Charities, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends. This amount represents gifts from 183 donors. 
  • 9,441 students used the pantry.
  • 71,535 items were distributed.

  During the 2021-2022 academic year: 

  • 4,763 students used the pantry.
  • 46,822 items were distributed. 

  During the 2020-2021 academic year (COVID year): 

  • 612 students used the pantry. 
  • 5,324 items were distributed. 

  For more information and statistics about student usage of Lend-A-Wing, please email the Pantry Advisor at madison.smith@unf.edu. 

   

• National Information and Statistics
  • According to the USDA, more than 34 million people in the US are food insecure. 
  • Many households that experience food insecurity do not qualify for federal nutrition programs, like many college students, and visit their local food bank and other food programs for extra support. 
  • Many learners must choose between paying for tuition or food. According to one university study: 45% of college students surveyed deal with food insecurity, however, this number varies by state and by school. Since critical thinking requires energy, and food provides energy, hunger affects a student's ability to focus. College students might face personal obstacles that prevent them from taking advantage of the food pantries in the area - they might be in class during the times when the pantries are open, might not have the transportation they need to get there, or could simply be ineligible due to their status as a student. Also, unfortunately, many of these learners do not qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
  • Statistics indicate that 31% of food-insecure individuals had to choose between paying for food or education. To afford food and tuition, many college students take out additional loans. These accumulate interest, leading to high loan payments after graduation. College food insecurity impacts both individual students and America as a whole. When students cannot focus on their studies due to hunger, their grades suffer and they may end up dropping out.