Help each other out. Each semester, Student Affairs with campus partners hosts a swipe drive.
During this fall’s swipe drive, donate a meal swipe at University Housing Dining locations or $1.00 at Wisconsin Union and the UW Bookstore to support fellow Badgers at UW. Funds help ensure all Badgers have access to affordable and nutritious food.
If you need support. Day-to-day expenses like food, clothing, and rent can make it challenging for students to make ends meet. There are many campus resources and student organizations available at no cost to all students.
You’re not alone.
Make a difference, one swipe at a time.
(Spring 2024 Dates TBD)
Resources and Support
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Badger FARE Program
The Badger FARE Program through the Dean of Students Office, connects students who are experiencing temporary and ongoing food insecurity with campus and community resources for long-term support, while providing them with funds that they can immediately use to purchase food on campus.
These funds will be given to a student once in an academic year in the amount of $75 via their Wiscard.
Basic Needs Resource
Emergency Support - Office of Financial Aid
The Financial Aid Office may be able to provide support if you are experiencing current emergency circumstances that are preventing you from meeting immediate and essential expenses. Essential expenses may include limited access to food, lack of housing, or an emergency medical situation. Funding is limited and financial assistance may not be available to fulfill each request. Information on Financial Aid Emergency Support.
Dean of Students Office
The Dean of Students Office provides individualized assistance to students facing food insecurity, including information about campus and community resources and crisis loans/grants. We encourage students to reach out in person, by phone at 608.263.5700, or by email to doso@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.
The Open Seat
The Open Seat is a student-funded, student-run, and student-serving food pantry by the Associated Students of Madison (ASM). All students with a Wiscard are eligible. Students can come to The Open Seat during any of our open hours or by appointment.
Food Recovery Network
UW–Madison Food Recovery Network is a branch of the national Food Recovery Network, whose main mission is to fight food insecurity and food waste at the same time by recovering food from university dining halls. We serve food that would have been thrown out to the Madison community for free twice a week. Everybody is welcome!
FH King - Harvest Handouts
Slow Food UW
Slow Food UW is a UW–Madison student group interested in where our food comes from, geographically, and culturally.
The Keep Food Pantry
The Keep Food Pantry offers access to nutritious food so members of the campus communities can focus their energies on their academic and career pursuits. The Keep Food Pantry is a ministry of Luther Memorial Church.
Campus Food Shed
Campus Food Shed is a student organization that provides free and local produce to the UW-Madison campus by helping connect food retailers with groups of people looking to accept food, the group aims to convert a considerable amount of food waste into a valuable resource. Follow Campus Food Shed on Instagram.
Interested in Giving More?
Donations can be made throughout the year to support the Badger FARE Program, through Dean of Students Office, a program that provides $75 of immediate funds to a student’s Wiscard.
With this money, students can purchase hot and cold food or non-perishable food items from dining locations across campus. Because funds go directly to a Wiscard, students utilizing the program remain anonymous to their peers, helping us cultivate a more welcoming environment.
Donate today to help thousands of students access healthy, fresh, and varied food resources.