Support for students facing food insecurity
Each day too many students miss meals, spending valuable energy worrying about how to feed themselves or their families while facing difficult decisions about spending their limited funds on course materials or groceries.
In support of Oregon State University’s campus-wide efforts, University Housing & Dining Services is committed to addressing food insecurity and providing opportunities for our students to thrive.
Food for Thought
During Fall 2019, University Housing & Dining Services launched a meal program called Food for Thought. Using the extra food generated by our campus dining locations, we create pre-packaged, balanced meal options, available for purchase at a reduced price in our dining centers.
These meals are available at no cost to Oregon State students who visit the Basic Needs Center (BNC) for a food strategy conversation and meet program criteria. Meals are also available for purchase in the dining halls as a budget friendly option.
The Full Plate Fund
Food insecurity can affect any student, even students living in campus residence halls, even when they have a dining plan. The Full Plate Fund, a collaboration between University Housing & Dining Services and the Basic Needs Center, helps address this issue.
Students with dining plans can donate dining plan dollars to the Full Plate Fund at anytime at the check-out in any dining center. Let the cashier know that you would like to donate to the Full Plate Fund. The BNC distributes these donated funds to other residence hall students who are struggling to get enough to eat. To learn more about Full Plate Funds, please visit the Basic Needs Center.
SNAP Benefits at Cascadia Market
Oregon State University is one of the few colleges in the country where students can use federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to purchase food staples on campus.
Since 2016, SNAP benefits have been accepted at Cascadia Market, the on-campus grocery store operated by University Housing & Dining Services.
Cascadia Market, located in the International Living-Learning Center, carries a variety of groceries, including fresh produce, fresh dairy products, frozen foods and canned goods.
Make Cents meals
Make Cents meals are nutritionally balanced, low-cost meals available at every UHDS dining center. They are designed to give students and dining center guests a nutritious meal option at an economical price.
Students using a UHDS dining plan receive an additional 20-percent discount on their meals.
Learn more about Make Cents daily specials
Food donations
University Housing & Dining Services collaborates with many campus and community organizations to donate excess food.
- Basic Needs Center Food Pantry: UHDS donates products directly to the on-campus food pantry.
- Linn Benton Food Share: Leftovers are sent to Linn Benton Food Share for use in community soup kitchens.
- Callahan Food Forest: During months when produce from the UHDS on-campus vegetable garden is not being used by dining center chefs, we partner with campus groups such as Community Engagement & Leadership to harvest the produce for use at the BNC food pantry. Students and campus visitors are also welcome to sample the fresh produce available in the Callahan Food Forest.
Fundraisers & events
University Housing & Dining Services works with several campus partners to raise money for organizations that fight food insecurity.
- Empty Bowls: This annual event is a soup feed and celebration that raises money for organizations that fight food insecurity. McNary Dining Center hosts Empty Bowls and provides all the food for event guests. The event is held in collaboration with OSU Anthropology, Food in Culture & Social Justice, Community Engagement & Leadership and the Basic Needs Center.
- Food drive: Each year in February, UHDS dining locations collect dining plan donations for the Full Plate Fund in support of the Oregon State Food Drive.
Discounts & dining rollover
Students and guests at campus dining centers have several options for receiving discounts and getting the most out of their dining budgets.
- Dining plans. When a campus resident spends from their dining plan, they receive a 20-percent discount on all food purchases from dining center micro-restaurants, and a 10-percent discount at cafes, stores and select MU restaurant locations.
- Orange Cash. Anyone affiliated with Oregon State can use the Orange Cash program, which allows them to receive a 10-percent discount at food locations across campus, including dining centers (open to all), cafes, food stores, and all MU restaurants. (Parking garage locations are not included.)
- Dining plan rollover. UHDS dining plan balances don't expire at the end of a student's year living on campus. Instead, all UHDS dining plan balances roll over for one additional academic year. This allows students to fully use all of their dining plan dollars, and provides a convenient way for them to continue to eat at dining centers even if they have moved off campus.
- Meal Perk: Students who have a campus job with UHDS dining services receive a 50-percent discount off their meal during their work shift.