On a chilly early December afternoon, a steady stream of Eagles stepped into the Market, AU’s free food pantry for students, which relocated in January to Mary Graydon Center 134.

One student plucked a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer and took a bottle of cooking oil, while another opted for a bag of snack chips. At the front of the Market, students perused shelves stocked with nonperishable items, including pasta, beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, and canned vegetables, along with a selection of fresh fruit. In the back, Eagles considered an array of foods—including ground beef, frozen veggies, and hummus—stored in a large freezer and refrigerator.

Since August 7, 243 undergraduates and graduate students have recorded about 1,400 visits to the Market, said Taylor Allgood, student support coordinator. During the 2023–24 academic year, students made more than 2,700 visits to the store. There’s no needs testing, Allgood said—the Market doesn’t turn anyone away.

For Eagles experiencing food insecurity, the Market “makes a world of difference,” said Allgood, who came to AU in August from her alma mater, the University of Cincinnati, where she worked at the Bearcats Pantry. “Grocery shopping is not cheap. Students can use the funds they saved by shopping at the Market and invest them elsewhere. The ultimate goal is to alleviate financial and life stress so students can be students first and prioritize their academics.”

College students nationwide are wrestling with food insecurity. According to a 2020 survey from the National Center for Education Statistics, 23 percent of undergraduates at four-year institutions across the country—nearly 4 million students—are food insecure. Overall, 12 percent of graduate students experience food insecurity, the survey found. Inflation, one of the effects of the COVID pandemic, continues to make it challenging for many students to fill their plates.

College food insecurity has a negative association with academic performance, the study found. Researchers found that food insecurity “is negatively associated with GPA, both alone and when considering demographic covariates” such as race, ethnicity, and Pell grant eligibility. 

The Market invites students to fill one grocery bag weekly at the store, which was relocated early this year as part of the ongoing renovations that support the Student Thriving Complex. The Market is stocked entirely by donors and replenishes its inventory weekly with everything from produce to proteins to pasta.

The AU community is encouraged to donate nonperishable items—including gluten-free and vegan foods, as well as personal-care items like toothpaste, deodorant, and period products. An Amazon wish list features staples like beans, canned soup, and condiments. 

The Market has donation bins in the following locations on campus:

• Don Meyers Technology and Innovation Building
• Anderson Hall lobby
• Bender Library
• Kerwin Hall lobby
• The Market
• SIS atrium

Allgood said she enjoys her job and feels a sense of mission. 

“Running the Market is more to me than just distributing food—it’s about creating a space where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to overcome challenges,” she said. “I love being part of their journey and knowing that even small acts of kindness can help them focus on their educational aspirations.”