FAQs

The Cougar Cupboard is an on-campus grocery-style food pantry. Our mission is to support students and address food and basic needs insecurity by fostering a compassionate community, ensuring access to nutritious resources, and empowering students to thrive academically and personally.

We are a free service for ALL University of Houston students and Houston Food Bank Food for Change scholars. Visit our How to Use the Cupboard page for sign-up instructions and how to use the Cupboard. Students have 30 credits a week and can use the Cupboard multiple times, as long as they do not exceed their credits.

Yes, all University of Houston students are able to use the Cougar Cupboard. The only qualification is to be enrolled in one class for the current semester (students may use the Cougar Cupboard during the summer semester if they are enrolled for the upcoming fall semester).

Each student has 30 credits a week. As long as students do not exceed those credits, students can visit us multiple times during our hours of operation.

Yes, students may send “substitute shoppers” to pick up food on their behalf if they are unable to make it to the Cougar Cupboard. All substitute shoppers must be informed of the student’s PeopleSoft ID# and Food Scholarship ID#, as these are required at checkout.

The Cougar Cupboard receives the majority of its inventory from its partner, the Houston Food Bank. All items are checked for quality by the Houston Food Bank and again by the Cougar Cupboard staff upon arrival.

Other items are purchased from outside distributors or received from individual donations, which are then checked to ensure they are within food safety guidelines.

The inventory changes each week, but you can always expect staples like grains (pasta, rice, oats), canned vegetables and meals, snacks, fresh produce, and more. Household and hygiene items may be available. Regular inventory updates are provided through Instagram (@uhcupbrd) and through email.

Foods past the date listed on their packaging are usually still safe to eat. The Cougar Cupboard follows Houston Food Bank’s Sorting guidelines to ensure that food in the pantry is still safe to distribute.

1. Definitions
   1. A "Best if Used By/Before" date indicates when a product will be of best flavor or quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.
   2. A "Sell-By" date tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management. It is not a safety date.
   3. A "Use-By" date is the last date recommended for the use of the product while at peak quality. It is not a safety date except when used on infant formula, for instance.
   4. A "Freeze-By" date indicates when a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality. It is not a purchase or safety date.

No, the Cougar Cupboard is a partnership between the University of Houston and the Houston Food Bank and does not qualify as a government service. Students are asked to sign up with the Houston Food Bank to use the service, but their information does not leave the Houston Food Bank’s database and is only used for demographic purposes.

Yes, the Cougar Cupboard accepts all donations as long as items are unused, unopened, and follow proper food quality guidelines.