Housing Dining & Culinary Services is committed to doing its part to address food insecurity on our campus. We created a Nutrition Access Program, participate in the campus-wide Swipe out Hunger Campaign, and work with various community partners including Food Recovery Network, River Food Pantry, and Porchlight to donate any unserved food.
Nutrition Access Program
Housing Dining’s Nutrition Access Program diverts unserved food from our dining locations and turn them into frozen, pre-packaged, and microwaveable meals at no cost to any UW-Madison student (formerly known as Frozen Meals Program).
Pick-ups for these meals are available at 3 locations in our campus community, including: The Crossing, The Pres House, and First Congregational Church. Follow UW Nutrition Access Program on Facebook or Instagram to learn more and for pick-up times.
Join us to fight food waste and overcome the food insecurity in our community!
2023-24 Stats:
Packaged over 5,500 meals during the 2023-24 academic year.
Swipe Out Hunger
Spring 2025 Swipe Drive:
TBD
2023-24 Stats:
Collected approximately 5,000 meals during the 2023-24 academic year.
A proud partner of Swipe Out Hunger
Help each other out. Each semester, Student Affairs with campus partners hosts a swipe drive. Donate a meal swipe at University Housing Dining locations or $1.00 at Wisconsin Union locations and the UW Bookstore to support fellow Badgers at UW. Funds help ensure all Badgers have access to affordable and nutritious food.
Collected meal swipes are offered to students in need, which can be used at any six of our Housing Dining locations.
If you need support. Day-to-day expenses like food, clothing, and rent can make it challenging for students to make ends meet. There are many campus resources and student organizations available at no cost to all students.
You’re not alone.
Make a difference, one swipe at a time.
Food Recovery Network
UW-Madison Food Recovery Network is a branch of the national Food Recovery Network, whose main mission is to fight food insecurity and food waste at the same time by recovering food from university dining halls. We serve food that would have been thrown out to the Madison community for free twice a week. Everybody is welcome!
Resources and Support
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Badger FARE Program
The Badger FARE Program through the Office of Student Assistance and Support, connects students who are experiencing temporary and ongoing food insecurity with campus and community resources for long-term support, while providing them with funds that they can immediately use to purchase food on campus.
These funds will be given to an eligible student once in an academic year in the amount of $75 via their Wiscard.
Basic Needs Resource
The Basic Needs Resource through the Office Financial Aid in partnership with the Office of Student Assistance and Support lists support services for your basic needs. There are also basic needs assistants available to help connect with you to navigate resources. You can connect directly with a Basic Needs Assistant by either emailing basic.needs@finaid.wisc.edu or completing this request form.
Emergency Support - Office Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Office may be able to provide support if you are experiencing current emergency circumstances that are preventing you from meeting immediate and essential expenses. Essential expenses may include limited access to food, lack of housing, or an emergency medical situation. Funding is limited and financial assistance may not be available to fulfill each request. Information on Financial Aid Emergency Support.
Office of Student Assistance and Support
The Office of Student Assistance and Support provides individualized assistance to students facing food access including information about campus and community resources and crisis loans/grants. We encourage students to reach out in person, by phone at 608.263.5700, or by email to OSAS@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.
The Open Seat
The Open Seat is a student-funded, student-run, and student-serving food pantry by the Associated Students of Madison (ASM). All students with a Wiscard are eligible. Students can come to The Open Seat during any of our open hours or by appointment.
FH King - Harvest Handouts
F.H. King developed the Harvest Handouts program in order to deliver high-quality, sustainably-grown produce to the UW-Madison community free of charge. Come by East Campus Mall every Sunday from noon to 1pm during the growing season for free veggies! Email fhking.students@gmail.com for more information.
Slow Food UW
Slow Food UW is a UW-Madison student group interested in where our food comes from, geographically, and culturally.
The Keep Food Pantry
The Keep Food Pantry offers access to nutritious food so members of the campus communities can focus their energies on their academic and career pursuits. The Keep Food Pantry is a ministry of Luther Memorial Church.
Campus Food Shed
Campus Food Shed is a student organization that provides free local produce to the UW-Madison campus by helping connect food retailers with groups of people looking to accept food, the group aims to convert a considerable amount of food waste into a valuable resource. Follow Campus Food Shed on Instagram.