• 58%

    of parenting students at ISU report needing help securing essential items for their children

  • 290

    visitors to the Parenting Student Resource Pantry during the Fall 2025 Semester

Support for student families

The Parenting Student Resource Pantry is open to all current undergraduate, graduate, and professional students* attending ISU who are pregnant and/or parenting young children. The pantry contains a variety of FREE items parents need on a regular basis. Items usually available in the Resource Pantry include:

  • Diapers (all sizes)
  • Baby wipes
  • Hygiene items such as hand soap and menstruation supplies
  • Baby and toddler food such as purees, rice cereal, and puffs
  • Shelf-stable food items such as pasta and canned goods
  • Children’s clothing and books
  • Household products such as toilet paper and paper towels
*If you are a postdoc, visiting scholar, or employee of the university in need of food assistance, please refer to the Additional Resources at the bottom of this page.
Photo of items available in Resource Pantry

Location and Hours

The Parenting Resource Pantry is located in the ISU Family Resource Center, in University Village north of campus. Pantry visitors are welcome to park vehicles in Lot 205. 

Children are welcome to shop the pantry with their parents. Please do not leave children unattended in vehicles while visiting the pantry. We also respectfully ask that you do not bring ill children into the pantry. If you are unable to make it into the pantry on open days/times, please email us at ccfamily@iastate.edu and our staff will work with you individually on your needs.

Hours for Spring 2026 (Jan 6 - May 14):

  • Tuesdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Wednesdays 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Summer 2026 Hours will be announced soon!

Donations

The Parenting Student Resource Pantry is supplied primarily through donations. If you'd like to donate items to the pantry, we've made it easy with a variety of options listed on our Amazon Wish List. If you prefer to shop locally, we gladly accept donations of similar items from any store. We also welcome donations of gently used children's clothing, shoes, toys, and books. 

View Amazon Wish List

Charitable cash donations to the Parenting Student Resource Pantry can be made to our dedicated ISU Foundation account.

ISU Foundation Giving Page

Photo of items available in Resource Pantry

Questions?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document for answers to our most common inquiries