Spartan Food Pantry

1. Fill out the Spartan Food Pantry User Intake & Agreement Form
2. Create an Account in PantrySoft via the link found in your confirmation email
3. Bring your Tower ID to the Pantry to receive a Pantry user sticker.

The Pantry is available to all students who meet these eligibility guidelines:

• Enrolled in the current semester at SJSU 
• Experiencing hunger or food insecurity
• A personal annual income of $36,777.50 or less (no documentation needed)

1. Check In
   • Complete the sign-up process.
   • Bring your student ID and shopping bags.
   • Check in at the Front Desk.
2. Shop
   • Grab a basket.
   • Take items following the assigned quantity limits.
3. Check Out
   • Bring your basket back to the front desk.
   • Check out with the staff.
   • Bag your items.

1. What do I need to bring when I shop at the Pantry?
   • Please bring reusable bags and your Student ID card. 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.
     
     
2. Is the Pantry open to non-citizen/resident students?
   • Yes, the Pantry is open to non-citizen/resident students who are currently enrolled and have filled out the Spartan Food Pantry User Intake & Agreement Form 
     
     
3. 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 or the Pantry User Intake form may ask and record information such as your name, address, household size, and other minimal information regarding your household. You providing this information 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. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

4. What should I know about expiration dates?
   • There are multiple types of dates (best by, use by, produced on, etc.) associated with food products. Most food is safe to eat much longer than the product dates. See handouts in the pantry for recommendations.
   • For further questions, please ask a staff member or review information available from Second Harvest of Silicon Valley or the USDA.
     
     
5. Do I still need to sign up again even if I have used the Spartan Food Pantry in previous semesters?
   • Pantry users who have accessed assistance from the Pantry beginning August 2024 do not need to retake the Pantry User Intake Form. Please ensure that you have your student ID with the white Pantry sticker.  
     
     
6. I'm a continuing student, and I am in need of food assistance, but have never used the Pantry before. May I still sign up to use the Pantry?
   • Yes! If you are a continuing student but new to the Pantry, you are welcome to fill out the User Intake Form.
     
     
7. What other community resources can I go to for food assistance when the Spartan Food Pantry is closed? 
   • During our times of closure, please be guided by the following community resources for food assistance.
     
     
8. 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.