The Pillars Pantry exists to help students persist to graduation by helping alleviate food insecurity.

Food insecurity refers to having limited food availability with a reduction in the quality or variety of food intake, that often results in disrupted eating patterns.  A lack of food security can be a considerable obstacle to academic success.

At Concordia Chicago, we know that being a college student is hard enough and we understand you make many sacrifices to receive an education. We strongly believe food security should not be one of them. This resource is here for you.

Give to the Pantry

The Pillars Pantry is funded through kind and generous donors. See below for donation options. All donations are tax deductible.

Individual donations: You can help the Pillars Pantry purchase food by donating through our online giving page.

In Kind Donations: You can drop off non-expired, non-perishable food donations in collection bins located by the KCC front desk or the Kreft Center helpdesk. Please reference our list of most needed items.

For large donations (especially a food drive) or to schedule and after-hours donation, please contact PillarsPantry@cuchicago.edu.

Most Needed Food Items

Community and Church Partners: Your organization, church, or group can help the Pillars Pantry by sponsoring a fundraising event, a non-perishable food drive, or both. Please contact us if you would like to hold a fundraiser or drive. 

Give Now

Get Food

Find out details about program eligibility and what type of food is available. 

Eligibility: CUC undergraduate, graduate and professional students who are enrolled in courses in fall or spring semester are eligible to use the Pillars Pantry once per month. All participants must complete an online participant form once per academic year and show their CUC student ID every visit.

What is available?: The Pillars Pantry provides free food to CUC students facing food insecurity and in need of assistance. The Pillars Pantry provides supplemental support, this means that we do not provide all of the food you will need but our goal is to help alleviate that need in some way.

Depending on what we have available, we will have non-perishable, canned vegetables and fruits, soups, pasta or rice, at least one protein, and cereal.

If you need additional food we can help by referring you to other food programs in the area. Please see the Food Insecurity Resources page for more information.

How to receive food from the Pillars Pantry:

  1. CUC members complete the online participant form once per academic year. 
  2. You will receive a confirmation email from the Pillars Pantry coordinator which will include your participant ID and a link to the online food order form (residential or commuter).
  3. Once you have submitted your online order form, the coordinator will notify you when your order is ready to pick up from the Pillars Pantry (usually 1-2 business days).

Pillars Pantry Hours and Location:

The Pillars Pantry is located in the upper level of the Koehneke Community Center on CUC's campus. The pantry is regularly open during the academic year and closed during university breaks.

  • Monday 3-5 p.m.
  • Wednesday 9-11 a.m.
  • Thursday 7-9 p.m.
  • Friday 9-11 a.m.

Additional Times Available by appointment

Please be prepared to show a current CUC ID.

About the Pillars Pantry

  • Established in September 2020, the Pillars Pantry is located in the Upper Level of the Koehneke Community Center and serves the members of the Concordia University Chicago community. 
  • Our Mission Statement: The Concordia University Chicago Pillars Pantry, with the support of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members, strives to answer the call of Jesus to love our neighbors by providing food and resources to our students and their families facing food insecurity.

Volunteer

To learn more about volunteer opportunities please email PillarsPantry@cuchicago.edu.