Okanagan College Students' Union
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  • The Pantry
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  • Donate to the Pantry

The Pantry

OCSU believes that no student should have to choose between buying groceries and paying bills. The Pantry is run by OCSU as a food bank for OC students. It offers a variety of non-perishable food items as well as basic hygiene and toiletry items for students facing short-term food insecurity and hardship.

Pantry Guidelines

  • Students may take up to five (5) items each visit.
  • Each item/combo is limited to one (1) per visit.
  • Students may use the Pantry once each week.
  • We do not provide bags – please bring your own.
  • Only one student is permitted in the Pantry at a time. If you’re coming with a group of friends, please take turns sending one person in while the rest wait in the hallway outside. The Pantry is a very small space and there really isn’t room for more than one person.
  • If you notice we are helping another student when you arrive, please wait in the hallway outside the OCSU office until you are welcomed in.
  • Out of consideration for students accessing other services within the OCSU office, please do not crowd the doorways.

Winter/Spring 2023 Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9:00am – 2:00pm
Fridays:
Closed

Closed Fridays, weekends, and statutory holidays.

Please note that the Pantry is occasionally subject to unexpected closures. Follow our Instagram for updates on closures.

Location:

The Pantry is located in Room A149, within the OCSU office (Room A148).

Pantry FAQs

Who can use the Pantry?

All currently enrolled students of Okanagan College are welcome to use the Pantry.

Is the Pantry free?

Yes! The Pantry is a 100% free service for our members.

Do I need to register to use the Pantry?

Registration is not necessary to use the Pantry, but you will need to provide your name and student number to the Pantry attendant each time you visit. This information is used for tracking purposes only, and is not shared with anyone outside of OCSU.

Does the Pantry have snacks?

No, we do not stock snacks in the Pantry.

Can I pick up for a friend?

No, each student must pick up for themselves.

What kinds of food do you have?

We try to keep a constant stock of non-perishable food items. Our staple items are:

  • Rice
  • Pasta and pasta sauce
  • Canned fruit/veggies
  • Canned soup
  • Canned tuna
  • Granola bars/snack bars

We also sometimes have:

  • Cereal
  • Oatmeal
  • Toilet paper
  • Juice

Please note that most of the foods we stock require preparation before consuming. We do not typically have ready-to-eat or snack options.

What if I need more food?

Please see our section below for resources in the Central Okanagan community.

If I only take one or two items today, can I come back and take a few more tomorrow?

No. Each student may only use the Pantry once each week, regardless of how many items they take. Furthermore, items cannot be banked/carried over from one week to the next.

How often do you restock?

We try to restock about once per month.

Where do you get your food from?

We purchase the vast majority of our food through the Central Okanagan Food Bank. We also occasionally receive donations from generous staff, faculty, students, and community members. See below for more on donating.

Can I volunteer to work in the Pantry?

We are not currently looking for volunteers to help in the Pantry.

Is the Pantry open over the summer?

The Pantry is open all summer long! Summer hours are generally the same as office hours (8am-3pm, closed between 11:30 and 12:30 for lunch). Please follow OCSU Kelowna’s Instagram to stay informed of irregular closures.

Donating to the Pantry

We are always grateful for donations! Non-perishable food items, as well as unopened toiletries and hygiene supplies, are always welcome. Please see our general guidelines below for items we can and cannot accept. If you are unsure if something is suitable to donate, please feel free to call us at 250-762-5445 ext 4250.

We also accept monetary donations via cash, credit, debit, or cheque. Cheques may be made out to “Okanagan College Students’ Union.”

We can accept:

  • Canned foods such as:
    • Soup
    • Vegetables
    • Fish/meats
    • Fruit
  • Boxed dinners, such as:
    • Kraft Dinner
    • Sidekicks
    • Ben’s Original Rice
  • Cereal (must be factory sealed in packaging)
  • Tea (must be an unopened box, or individually packaged teabags)
  • Baby food/formula
  • Diapers
  • Toilet paper
  • Hand soap (liquid or bar)
  • Shampoo/conditioner/body wash (travel or full size) (must be unused/unopened)

We cannot accept:

  • Anything past its expiration date
  • Anything that has been used or opened, or is not in its original packaging
  • Homemade or home packaged food
  • Perishable food, or food that has a short shelf life
  • Food that requires refrigeration

Although the following items cannot be accepted as Pantry donations, we are happy to put them on the Free table outside of our office:

  • Clean, gently worn clothes
  • Toys
  • School supplies

Community Resources

There are many organizations in the Okanagan Valley that can help you if you need assistance beyond what OCSU can provide. We have listed some of them here.

Disclaimer: These listings are intended for information and reference only. Inclusion on this list does not indicate endorsement from OCSU. We have made our best attempts to ensure the listings are accurate, relevant to students, and are safe and inclusive for all. 

  • Central Okanagan Food Bank (Kelowna)
  • Central Okanagan Food Bank (Westside)

Contact

General:
info@ocsu.ca
executivedirector@ocsu.ca

Health and Dental:
health-dental@ocsu.ca

Contact your campus organizer:
Kelowna – Jennifer Gullins
Penticton – Alana Day
Salmon Arm –  Lindsey Loftus

 

PLEASE NOTE: As of January 9 2023, our phone lines are down due to the network outage at Okanagan College. We cannot accept phone calls at this time.

About

How We Operate

Current Team

Mandate and Values

Governing Documents

2021-22 Report of the Board

Connect

Kelowna

Penticton

Salmon Arm

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We respectfully acknowledge that our places of work are on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Syilx/Okanagan people & Secwepemc Shuswap people.

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