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The CMU Pantry

The In-Person Shopping Experience

The CMU Pantry is operating under a “shop through” model, meaning that shoppers will have the opportunity to come into the Pantry and select their own items during their visit. We hope this modality will improve the shopping experience and increase the amount of choice that shoppers have. Shoppers are asked to reserve times for their visits to prevent overcrowding.

Reserving Shopping Times at the Pantry

There are three easy steps you must take if you wish to shop at the Pantry:

  1. Complete the Pantry Registration Survey. This form must be completed every time you visit the Pantry. Be sure to click the “This is my first time visiting this academic year" option when you are completing this survey for the first time, then read and answer the questions carefully. (Please note that the status of this form may remain “pending” after submission, and you do not need to wait for a response in order to shop at the Pantry. Once you have submitted this form, you may proceed to step 2 in these instructions.)
  2. Complete the Shopping Reservation Form. This form allows you to reserve a time to visit the Pantry. Please be punctual when you visit the Pantry; shoppers who do not have a reservation or arrive outside of their reservation time may be asked to wait for space to open up before they are permitted to shop in the Pantry. If you are running late for your reservation, or need to cancel after making a reservation, please email to let us know.
  3. Visit the Pantry during your chosen timeslot to pick up your items. The Pantry is located at the Residence on Fifth (4700 Fifth Ave). When you enter the building, you will turn left and walk to the dining room located outside of the Pantry. Pantry staff will greet you and bring you into the Pantry when it is time for you to shop. We have plastic grocery bags for packaging items, but we recommend that shoppers bring a backpack or reusable shopping bags. A full Pantry order can be quite heavy, and we don’t want your plastic bags to tear open on the way home!
The CMU Pantry is committed to reducing hunger among students by providing nutritious food at no cost. We are dedicated to serving our student community with accessible food resources to promote a healthier, balanced university experience.

Learn how you can donate to the Pantry.

May & June Shopping Hours

  • Wednesday, May 24 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 25 | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday, May 26 | 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, May 27 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, May 30 | 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, May 31 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 1 | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 3 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Monday, June 5 | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 7 | 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, June 8 | 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Saturday, June 10 | 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

CMU Pantry Location

Residence on Fifth
4700 Fifth Avenue, First Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Res on Fifth Pantry

Directions to the Pantry

Contact Information

Pantry Coordinator
cmu-pantry@andrew.cmu.edu
412-268-8704 (SLICE office)

The CMU Pantry Comic Book

Not having enough nutritious food to eat is a problem many university students face on a regular basis. CMU is no exception.

In 2020, Gabi Maier, faculty member in CMU's modern languages department, and Cora Hickoff, School of Fine Arts alumna, created a CMU Pantry comic book as a fun way to educate students about the pantry.

The comic is based on 37 student interviews, conducted in the fall of 2019 by Gabi, that revealed a number of questions and concerns students had about CMU’s food pantry: What is the pantry What does it offer? Who is allowed to use it? Will I take away food from students who need it more than I do? 

The comic script is based on the interviews that Cora turned into a fully illustrated comic book.

Questions or comments about the comic? Contact Gabi Maier at eichgabi@andrew.cmu.edu or Cora Hickoff at corahickoff@gmail.com.

Directions to the Pantry

Pedestrian Directions

From the Cohon Center, travel down Morewood Avenue and turn left on Fifth Avenue. At the intersection of Neville Street and Fifth Avenue, The Residence on Fifth will be on your left. Alternately, a cut through at the back of the Tepper parking lot, which passes next to the WQED building, gets you to Fifth Avenue. Then, turn left toward the intersection of Fifth and Neville.

Bus Route Directions

Use PAT bus stops (#1175 and #1169, outbound and inbound respectively) where the 71B and 71D routes stop at the corner of Neville Street and Fifth Avenue, where the Residence on Fifth is located.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.

Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

  1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
  2. fax: (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.