Patriot Pantry

On-Campus Food Pantry

Started by the Student Government Association in 2019, the Patriot Pantry is an on-campus food resource for students, employees, and community. The pantry is 100% donor funded through a combination of food and monetary donations. Last academic year (2024 - 2025), the Patriot Pantry saw an average of 40 visitors a week and distributed on average 305+ items per week.

The busiest weeks include the beginning of the school year and the week before holiday breaks. The pantry is meant to be only supplementary assistance; students with consistent food insecurity are directed to long term assistance through nonprofits in the areas such as PATH and East Texas Food Bank.

The Patriot Pantry is dedicated to helping those in need. Its mission is to provide food and personal care items to members of the UT Tyler community. It is our goal that no student goes to class hungry!

Fall 2025 Hours: *Note Pantry hours change per semester. 

Monday	3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday	2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Wednesday	3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday	2:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Friday	3:00 PM - 5:30 PM

The Pantry is closed on the weekends and major school holidays. The pantry is available outside of hours only for emergency situations. Please contact UT Tyler Police Department, and they will provide access to the pantry in emergency situations - 903.566.7300.

If you are in immediate need and we are not available, you can check out the other food resources in Tyler.

Location:
Located in Library 223 (outside of the library main doors).

Most needed items

Canned meats  - chicken, tuna (Pop top lids are preferred but not required! ) Meals in a can (soup, stew, chili, ravioli) Hormel Compleats Meals Canned fruit  Breakfast on the go (pop-tarts, cereal)  Snacks (granola bars, nuts, dried fruit, etc.) Pastas (Mac-n-Cheese, Ramen, etc.) Peanut butter Jelly Cereal Bath and hygiene products (Toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant) Pasta Sauce

We cannot accept

Expired items  Baked goods Foods in opened packaging Foods with no expiration date listed  Raw meat

 

Upcoming Events:

Soules College of Business Food Drive - For the month of September (2025) stop by the Soules College of Business to drop off items to donate to the pantry! There are collection bins throughout the building. 

Donations for Citations: Donate food items & get up to $50 off your parking citation. (Terms and Conditions):  A photo ID must be presented.  Credit can only be applied to parking citations not a parking pass. All donated items must be on the Patriot Pantry list and matched quantity to acquire a $50 credit. Donated items must be unopened and not damaged. Each donated item is worth $5 credit. This can only be used once a semester. 

Stop by the Patriot Pantry on Thursday, October 16, 2025 2:00 - 4:00 PM for this semester's Donations for Citations Event! 

Want to donate?

We accept food and monetary donations all year. Email us to set up a food donation. UT Tyler Faculty and Staff can set up a payroll deduction.

Donate online to the Patriot Pantry

Questions - Contact patriotpantry@uttyler.edu