As the holiday season approaches, our attention naturally turns to food.
Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Thanksgiving, Diwali, Friendsgiving or Kwanzaa, fall and winter holidays bring friends and family together over shared meals, as preparing and enjoying food strengthens social bonds and reinforces community. With the chill in the air, we find solace in comforting dishes like hearty soups, soul-soothing stews, succulent roasts or spiced desserts. Many also hold unique culinary traditions tied to their cultural heritage, where food not only provides a sense of belonging but instills cultural pride.
But not everyone can indulge in lavish charcuterie boards, endless holiday cookies or a vat of chicken noodle soup. Recognizing this, Rams Against Hunger steps up to ensure that every Ram can experience the holiday warmth with a nourishing meal.
Based in The Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement, Rams Against Hunger provides services to students, faculty and staff facing food insecurity. Rams can access fresh produce, dairy, eggs and shelf-stable and frozen foods at no cost, helping ease the ever-increasing burden of grocery prices. The services offered encompass a food pantry, a meal-swipe program, eight pocket pantries and personalized assistance in navigating federal aid eligibility, especially SNAP and EBT benefits.
Above all, Rams Against Hunger is dedicated to destigmatizing and normalizing discussions about food insecurity, while upholding the dignity of those seeking assistance.
As the holidays approach, Rams Against Hunger becomes a crucial resource, recognizing this time’s heightened isolation associated with food insecurity. They’ve collaborated with the Food Bank for Larimer County, which contributes 95% of the pantry’s food, along with Morning Fresh Farms and Whole Foods. Through a myriad of partnerships, Rams Against Hunger ensures a well-rounded and nourishing array of foods, catering to the diverse needs of the community.
In line with their dedication to sustainability and public involvement, Rams Against Hunger enthusiastically embraces donations from community members. They’re currently receiving donations of unopened packaged food. Rams Against Hunger also supports the Growing Give program, encouraging Rams to contribute surplus garden produce and help minimize food waste.
As winter approaches, Rams Against Hunger is gearing up for holiday initiatives. A recent Thanksgiving event on Nov. 17 saw 150 turkeys and holiday meal items distributed to CSU families. For Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28, they planned to raise $90,000 for programs like the Meal Swipe initiative. This initiative allows students to apply for 30–50 meal swipes, usable at any CSU dining hall. They also remained open throughout fall break, offering assistance to local, on-campus and international students.
The Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry, located in the CSU General Services Building at 1251 Mason St., extends its welcome to all community members — students, staff and faculty alike. Visitors are encouraged to bring their CSU ID card and bags for a seamless experience.
For more details about Rams Against Hunger’s eight pocket pantries, meal swipe program, ongoing initiatives or volunteer opportunities, visit the SLiCE office in the Lory Student Center, Room 210.
