Trailblazers Care Pantry

About Us

The Trailblazers Care Pantry is an on-campus resource for students and their families that provides non-perishable and perishable food items, hygiene products, a career closet, and more. The pantry also includes a career closet that provides clothing items for students to use for internships and job interviews. 

Our Numbers

Since its inception in Fall 2022, we have given over 3,000 pantry items to students. In Fall 2023, we served 146 shoppers - 44 who were visiting for the first time. In this same semester, we also distributed nearly 35 break bags which are pre-packed non-perishable food and hygiene products for our students. Donations received that semester totaled over 200 items including non-perishable and perishable food and other donations such as clothing.

We are still collecting data to better understand student needs. However, our data does show we must provide the most support when students begin a new semester and before holiday breaks. It is important that we provide this resource to our students, so they can focus on academics and persist through graduation. 

March 2023 Report

Resources We Offer

• A shopping experience where students can personally select their items,
• Healthy Habit workshops that encourage nutritious meal choices and habits,
• Break bags where students can retrieve pre-made meal bags for holiday breaks,
• Nutrition classes, 
• and a Career Closet for students to use for internship and job interviews.

Events

Donation Drives

In Fall 2023, the Trailblazer Care Pantry was featured in the UNT System Season of Giving as an initiative for employees to support during the holiday season. The pantry collaborated with the UNT Dallas Foundation on Giving Tuesday to host a coat drive to collect winter coats, blankets, scarves, socks, and gloves for students who needed them. As a result of this drive, the pantry collected over 50 cold-weather clothing items and additional donations.

In Spring 2024, the campus community helped the pantry restock hygiene products. The drive accepted full and travel-size products such as shampoo and conditioners for all hair types, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene products, body wash, shaving cream, and deodorant. 

Trailblazer Kitchen

Trailblazer Kitchen cooking sessions are free instructional programs that teach healthy recipes and cooking techniques, so students can focus on the nutritional content. Meals are designed to be healthy, affordable, quick, and easy to make. 

Our Needs

Our current pantry needs include the following:

• Food items
  • Canned soup
  • Canned ravioli and chili
  • Heat and eat snacks
  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Grab-and-go snacks
• Hygiene Products
  • Deodorant
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • Bar soap and body wash
  • Toilet tissue
  • Feminine hygiene products
• Career Closet
  • Ties
  • Plus size clothing

Please see our Amazon Wishlist for other needs not listed here. 

Trailblazer Care Pantry Amazon Wishlist

Learn More

Increased access to basic needs positively affects students' social, emotional, and academic performance and college persistence. If you would like to learn more, please visit our webpage.