Western Hub of Living Essentials (WHOLE) Pantry

A fridge with fresh milk, eggs, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and milk alternatives like oat milk and soy milk comprises half of the image while the other half is comprised of a shelf with rice, canned food, pasta, and toiletries. In the center of the image is the Western Hub of Living Essentials logo, which has leaves, an apple, a T-shirt, a pad, and a toothbrush.

What is the Western Hub of Living Essentials?

 

The AS Western Hub of Living Essentials (WHOLE) provides free food, as well as toiletries to Western students experiencing food insecurity and who need hygiene products. Coordinated by the Leadership and Community Engagement office, WHOLE also provides educational information and raises awareness on issues surrounding the security of basic needs. 

How Can Students Access WHOLE?

 

Located in Viking Union, room 435, WHOLE’s hours of operation are the same as the Viking Union. WHOLE operates as a self-service, food and toiletries pantry, where students can grab the items they need without needing to provide personal information, identification, or “proof” of their need, which can be barriers to those in need of resources. Students are encouraged to bring their own bags in order to order to reduce waste, but if needed, paper bags are available for use.

 How to Support WHOLE

Left: The Viking Funder Page showing that WHOLE has raised over $6,000 so far. Center: Red Grojean, one of the WHOLE Coordinators, tabling at a food drive with Baily Hadley, the Literacy Tutor Coordinator. Left: One of the WHOLE donation bins on the sixth floor of the Viking Union.

Left: The Viking Funder Page showing that WHOLE has raised over $6,500 so far. Center: Red Grojean, one of the WHOLE Coordinators, tabling at a food drive with Baily Hadley, the Literacy Tutor Coordinator. Left: One of the WHOLE donation bins on the sixth floor of the Viking Union. 

  • Help WHOLE purchase food and hygiene products that are not regularly received by donations by contributing to our Viking Funder.
     
  • Become a WHOLE Ambassador! Get a unique fundraising link to help support WHOLE and win prizes for raising the most money! Sign up by filling out the interest form. 
     
  • Donate food items and toiletries: If you pick up extra food and hygiene products, you can directly donate them to WHOLE by dropping them off at the WHOLE’s donation bin, which is located on the 6th floor of the Viking Union. If you would like to coordinate donating food items that are perishable, please contact WHOLE. We cannot accept donations that are expired or opened, therefore, please do not donate them.
     
  • Host a food drive: Unexpired, non-perishable food items and toiletries are accepted. We can send you a template with the logo, and you just input your dates! After the food drive is complete, contact us in order to coordinate WHOLE receiving what was donated.
     
  • Event admission: Hosting an event? Encourage all attendees to bring two cans of food for entry or a discount for entry. Please contact us if you would like to coordinate this

 Volunteer for Us

Volunteers for WHOLE unloading a delivery (left) and restocking the pantry (right).

WHOLE volunteers having a blast as they unload a delivery (left) and restock the pantry (right).  

Interested in serving as a volunteer? Our volunteers help as often as they can and assist paid staff with inventory, cleaning, and stocking shelves. To volunteer with us, sign up for a shift using our Sign-Up Genius. Shifts are typically 1 hour long. We will train you during your first shift.

 Partnerships

More Food Security Resources on Campus

A Holstein cow with a thought bubble above their head saying "got food?"

Graphic produced using Canva Pro.  

Other food and basic necessity pantries across campus include: 

  • Fairhaven College Pantry (located on the 3rd floor of Fairhaven College)
     
  • CEED Food Pantry (located in Miller Hall 150)
     
  • Journalism Pantry (located in the Communications Facility by CF 257)
     
  • Linguistics Department Pantry (located in Bond Hall 403)
     
  • Sociology Food Pantry (located in Arntzen Hall 510)
     
  • Parks Hall Pantry (located in Parks Hall 045)

Find out about off campus food, toiletry, and hygiene resources on the Associated Students WHOLE website.