On-campus pantry provides lifeline for pregnant and parenting students

One Day One KU support helps student caregivers thrive

Balancing lectures, study sessions and tests with everyday responsibilities can be a lot for any University of Kansas student. For students who are also raising families, it can be overwhelming.

The KU Pregnant and Parenting Resource Pantry, or the Pantry, currently housed within KU’s free food pantry, the Campus Cupboard, is a lifeline for those facing such challenges. The Pantry, supported in part by donations during One Day One KU, helps caregiving or expecting students by providing resources from baby formula and diapers to information on childcare or other supportive services. Students are more likely to stay on their path to graduation when their essential needs are met.

Sarah Grabber, who became associate director of Student Impact Programs and Services in September 2024, said that donations of any amount for the Student Affairs 2025 One Day One KU campaign can make a big impact and help students stay on course. Five dollars can purchase a package of baby wipes, $25 could cover a package of diapers or $75 could provide a variety of childcare items to help a student after the birth of a child.

The Pantry is one of several impact services at the Student Engagement Center (SEC). The SEC is one of 14 Student Affairs departments helping students stay in the classroom and thrive through support services and engagement opportunities. The center also houses other vital resources for students, including the Trans Closet and Winter Coat Closet.

These resources were recently relocated from different areas on campus to a convenient, centralized space in the Student Engagement Center, housed within Kansas Memorial Union’s Suite 400 and the Sabatini Multicultural Resource Center on Jayhawk Boulevard, Students can access resources, engage in community with one another, and meet with supportive staff members.

Grabber has seen the impact of the Pantry and other Student Engagement Center resources firsthand.

“Working in all these spaces, you really get to know the individuals who come in, and I hear feedback,” said Grabber. “People come back as they are getting close to graduation, thank us, and say, ‘without your services, I wouldn't have been able to finish my degree.’”

The Campus Cupboard and Pregnant and Parenting Resource Pantry are open Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, and offer a familiar grocery store shopping experience for free. Shelves are stocked with baby bottles, formula, diapers, onesies and other essentials. Students can also pick up fresh produce, canned goods and hygiene products from the Campus Cupboard, which was established in 2018 in partnership with Just Food, the Douglas County food pantry. Pregnancy and ovulation tests, as well as information on other resources on and off campus, are also available.

Meeting the need

Both the Pregnant and Parenting Resource Pantry and the Campus Cupboard are part of KU’s ongoing commitment to support the health and wellness of every KU student. In 2022, Nikita Haynie, then director of the Emily Taylor Center for Women and Gender Equity, established the Pantry. She led a donation drive during Non-Traditional Student Week to get the Pantry off the ground with help from KU student group, Students United for Reproductive and Gender Equity (SURGE). The Pantry officially opened on March 6, 2023, and served 60 student caregivers a wide range of free childcare products in its first year.

Haynie, now the director of the KU Office of Family Engagement, recalls one international graduate student caregiver she met through the Pantry that first year.

“They were new to KU and were in urgent need of milk and diapers for their child,” Haynie said. “They were relieved to learn that they had access to free resources, which alleviated some stress during a difficult time.”

In 2024, the Pantry saw a higher demand, serving 100 student caregivers. Grabber said they hope to move the parenting resources to a dedicated room this year, which will provide more space for both the Pantry and the Campus Cupboard and help meet the increased demand for both services.

Funds are continually needed to keep the shelves filled with baby supplies and formula — but also for staffing to increase the Pantry’s accessible hours to students. Currently, the space is staffed for limited hours by Student Engagement Center personnel and student employees, who are often greeted by a line of waiting students when they open each day.

Whether student parents need ongoing assistance or a few free supplies on an especially challenging day, meeting their needs can make all the difference in helping them obtain their degree.

“We know that when basic needs are met, such as food and other essentials,” said Grabber, “students are more likely to succeed during their time here at KU.”