January 17, 2024

Dear AU Community,

We hope this message finds you well. We write to update you about the exciting new location of The Market, AU's Food Pantry, and to highlight our continued efforts to address food insecurity among our students.

The Market’s new home is in Mary Graydon Center (MGC) 134 and is opening today, Wednesday, January 17, 2024. This relocation is part of the ongoing renovations in MGC that support the new Student Thriving Complex and the university's ongoing commitment to enhance the resources available to our students. The new space is equipped with commercial-grade refrigerators and freezers, allowing us to broaden the scope of donations we can accept. The Market can now make available proteins, meats, frozen vegetables, cheese, tofu, and other perishable refrigerated and frozen food items donated from the community.

Over the years, The Market has developed strong relations with many campus partners. Through the University’s Dining Program, the Market receives support funding, purchasing support, and access to special fundraising opportunities, such as 5% cash, credit or Eaglebucks on True Burger sale donations. Under the new partnership with the University’s Airlie Berkshire Farm, the Market received an average of 15 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program shares per week in the fall, which provided about 1,400 pounds of fresh produce to students.

The University’s meal plans allow for students to donate up to 5 meal swipes from their guest meals allotments or up $75 in dining dollars at the end of each semester. For those interested in contributing additional support to The Market, there are multiple ways to make a difference. Any member of the community can drop off non-perishable food items in the donation box located outside The Market at MGC 134 anytime, donate online, or select a food item from The Market's Amazon Wish List to be sent directly to our shelves. If you wish to donate perishable food items, we welcome you to bring them to MGC 134 during our operating hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm, and Fridays from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm.

The new location and capabilities for The Market are thanks largely to our colleagues in the Office of Planning and Project Management, Dining and Auxiliary Services, Facilities, University Police, and the Office of Finance and Treasurer. We want to express our gratitude to Bronté Burleigh-Jones and Jonathan McCann for their partnership, and to Gabby Li and Kayla Shin for their expert project management during the relocation process, and finally, Ann Marie Powell, Mike Scher and the entire Dining team for their partnership and support.

The creation of The Market in 2017 expanded our commitment to addressing food insecurity among our student community. Initiated by a student research project that surveyed 700 fellow students, the findings revealed a concerning level of food insecurity that aligned with national data. For more than six years, The Market has played a crucial role in supporting students in need.  

We look forward to continuing this important work and supporting our students throughout the semester. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact themarket@american.edu. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to helping tackle food insecurity at AU. 

In Service,

Raymond Ou, Ed.D., Vice President for Student Affairs  

Dayne Hutchinson, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement and Success