Students at the University of North Florida have access to several local resources battling food insecurity, including on-campus and nearby options.
Food insecurity significantly impacts college students, with prevalence rates on campuses ranging from 19% to 56%, up to four times the national average, according to the National Library of Medicine.
On-campus resources
Lend-A-Wing, a food pantry located in the UNF Student Union, offers canned food, fresh produce, hygiene products, school supplies, and more.
Founded in 2012, the Lend-A-Wing Pantry is a Student Government executive agency designed to combat food insecurity on campus by providing students free, anonymous access to food, hygiene items, and school supplies, according to its website.
In the fall semester of 2025, Lend-A-Wing distributed 57,209 pounds of food and had 7,993 students visit the pantry, according to its website.
For the summer semester, the pantry is closed on Monday and Tuesday, and it acknowledges university closures year-round.
The pantry is open during the summer semester on Wednesday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The hours for the upcoming fall semester are not yet posted. More updates about Lend-A-Wing can be found on the UNF Student Government Instagram.
While on-campus options provide immediate relief for students, several regional organizations extend their services to the broader Northeast Florida community.
Local resources
Feeding Northeast Florida, a regional food bank, offers resources for people interested in volunteering or finding a food pantry near them, including information on its mobile food pantry.
Hayden Prince, the community engagement manager, said the location on 5245 Old Kings Road is a large distribution center rather than a soup kitchen.
“We have pallets of food, not plates,” said Prince.
The pantry receives frozen food, dry and canned goods, hygiene products and more to supply food banks, according to Prince.
While Feeding Northeast Florida focuses on regional distribution, Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida, a faith-based nonprofit organization in Jacksonville, offers more client-facing pantry services.
The pantry offers food and hygiene supplies by appointment once a month, according to Ronnie Wilson, food pantry manager.
“We try to keep toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shaving cream, razors, shampoo, body wash, laundry supplies and general cleaning supplies,” Wilson said. The pantry can also offer wellness supplies, depending on its donations.
However, to receive food from the pantry, Wilson said there are guidelines for people earning below a certain amount. For a one-person household, the maximum income to receive food from the pantry is $3,913 per month, Wilson said.
Lutheran Social Services also provides a pet food pantry, according to Wilson.
“We work with the Humane Society too. Every Thursday we go to the Humane Society and pick up two to four pallets of food from them. Plus we received two grants to purchase food,” said Wilson.
The pantry receives food donations for pets such as cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters and parrots, Wilson said. According to the website, the pantry is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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