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Operating from The Office for Basic Needs, Rams Against Hunger offers a menu of services that support students, faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity. Services include a food pantry, a meal-swipe program, pocket pantries, and in-person assistance with navigating federal aid eligibility. This multi-pronged approach acknowledges the broad scope of the issue and seeks to normalize this difficult conversation for the individuals affected, as well as for the institution as a whole. Our hope in providing these services is to ensure that basic needs need not be overlooked at the expense of a degree. By reducing the stigma around food insecurity and meeting student, staff and faculty needs in a way that affirms dignity, we hope to live out the creed that Rams really do take care of Rams.
RAH Food Pantry
Rams Against Hunger is proud to offer our permanent food pantry on campus.
Fall 2025 hours of operation are:
Mondays: 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Tuesdays: 9:00 am – noon
Wednesdays: 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Thursdays: 2:00– 5:00 pm
Fridays: CLOSED
Additional resources are available through our partners at the Food Bank of Larimer County.
All members of our community (students, staff and faculty) may access the RAH
Food Pantry. We look forward to seeing you at the General Services Building (1251 Mason Street).
Please bring your CSU ID card and reusable bags!
Pocket Pantries
In partnership with ASCSU, Rams Against Hunger offers a grab-n-go food selection to members of the Ram community at the following locations:
- Lory Student Center- level 200 – ASCSU Plaza-side entrance
Please “swipe” your CSU ID to enter the Pocket Pantry doors - CRC Kitchens
Lory Student Center, Levels 200 & 300 - Fostering Success/Student Achievement
Stadium, Collaborative for student Success, access through lobby - CSU Health Network
2nd Floor, hallway by Business Services - Adult Learner and Veteran Services
Lory Student Center
Meal Swipe Program
This program allows eligible students to apply for 30- 40 meal swipes, which can be utilized at any CSU dining hall.
Application is not currently live. Please check back later.
How it works
- Students apply for dining hall meals via the application link on October 1st, 2025 at 8am MST.
- Application are evaluated on a rolling basis, though this program is limited. We encourage you to apply early to be considered.
- Applications are evaluated by Rams Against Hunger and CSU’s Office of Financial Aid. Eligibility for the program is outlined below in the “Criteria and Selection” section.
- Applicants may apply for either 30 or 40 meals on their RamCard for use at any CSU Dining Hall for the duration of the semester. If an applicant is allocated swipes mid-semester, the number of meals they receive will be pro-rated.
- Recipients can swipe their RamCard at any CSU dining hall. Hours and locations of CSU dining centers can be found here.
- Recipients must reapply for consideration each semester, the waitlist does not roll over.
Who’s eligible
- All full-time students (graduate and undergraduate) enrolled at Colorado State University.
Criteria
- Must have a valid RamCard (can be obtained at RamCard Office).
- Must not currently have a meal plan at CSU Residential Dining Centers.
- Selection Process: Applicants’ financial situation will be reviewed by the Office of Financial Aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or CSU ASSET Bill Institutional Aid Application.
- Where no SAI is available, other means of financial assessment, including application responses will be taken into consideration
- Students with the highest level of demonstrated need (Tier I – or an SAI of $10,000 or less) will be given priority based on the order of applications received.
- Students with the next highest level of need (Tier II – SAI of $10,001 – $17,000) will be reviewed and served based on the order of applications received.
- Students with an SAI of $17,000 or over will not be eligible except under extenuating circumstances.
For more information, email the Basic Needs Manager at Michael.Buttram@colostate.edu, or call (970) 219-7165.
RamRide Food Ops
In collaboration with RamRide, we offer a delivery service for on- and off-campus students, faculty, and staff who are unable to come to the Pantry in person. RamRide Food Ops makes deliveries every Friday from 2:30 – 4:00 pm.
NOTE: RamRide Food Ops is designed for folks who have extenuating circumstances preventing them from physically accessing the pantry, or transporting food home from the pantry.
This is a highly limited service and we ask that only individuals who meet these requirements fill out the application.
Click here to fill out the application!
Student Meal Swipe Donations
Rams Against Hunger: Day of Giving (Meal Swipe Program):
In collaboration with Housing and Dining Services twice annually, students who have weekly meal plans can donate up to 2 of their unused guest/bonus passes to support our meal swipe program.
Volunteers are near the meal swipe stations at the entrances of each dining hall to encourage people to donate up to two meals. It is an easy (and fun) volunteer opportunity with great significant impact.
Questions can be directed to Michael Buttram, at michael.buttram@colostate.edu.
SNAP Benefits
What is SNAP?
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, can help eligible low-income families and individuals buy food! SNAP provides monthly supplemental income for food purchases for about 1 in 10 Coloradoans.
SNAP is a federal entitlement program, which means that granting one individual benefits will not take away from others who are eligible. Many students are eligible!
Student Eligibility Guidelines:
You might qualify for SNAP if you meet any of the following criteria:
- Work 80 hours/month or participate in work-study (or experienced loss of income due to COVID-19)
- Are a Parent or Caregiver
- Receive TANF Benefits
- Have a Disability that Makes Working Challenging
- Participate in a Workforce Development Program
Colorado State University is available to help you apply for SNAP remotely! For more information and to complete an eligibility screening and application, contact SNAP4Rams@colostate.edu. Or you can call us at (970) 491-8051. We are here to answer your question and help you navigate the benefit process.
Students (18-49) attending college at least half-time* may be eligible by income guidelines and one of the above additional criteria
Students attending college less than half-time* and those age 50+ do not need to meet additional student criteria (only income)
Factors that may impact eligibility:
- If your meal plan pays for more than half of your meals per week, you are not eligible for SNAP
- If you are under the age of 22 and living with parent or guardians, you must apply for SNAP as part of their household.
- If you are on a break from school, you must still meet the criteria that make you eligible for SNA
- If you are receiving benefits through the VA or private scholarships, they may count for income.
How does it work?
You must apply for SNAP in the state where you currently live. You apply for SNAP as part of a “household”. A household consists of everyone who lives together and purchases and prepares meals together.
An eligible household will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. Benefits are automatically loaded into your account each month. If your state agency determines that you are eligible, you will receive benefits back to the date you submitted your application.
In most cases, your state agency or local office will process your application within 7 – 30 days. During the 30 days, you may need to complete an eligibility
Ram Food Recovery
Ram Food Recovery sends text alerts about food leftover from catered events within Housing & Dining Services. If a catered event has any food leftover at the end of the event, catering staff send a text alert to subscribers with date, time, and location of food pick-up.
Participants generally have a 30 minute window for food pick-up.
Anyone with a CSU ID is welcome to sign up for text alerts.
Give to Rams Against Hunger
Data tells us that 1/3 students at CSU experience food insecurity.
Rams Against Hunger programs exist to alleviate food insecurity in ways that affirm dignity and strengthen our community, but we can’t do it without you.
Donating $10.00 provides the cost of a nutritious meal from one of our dining centers through the RAH Meal Swipe Program.
$540 offers one student four meals each week, ensuring that they can focus on their studies without having to worry about where their next meal will come from. Your support means that food-insecure students have the resources to focus on their educations and succeed despite the odds.
Off-Campus Food Resources
The Larimer County Food Bank: https://foodbanklarimer.org/
Hunger Free Colorado’s COVID 19 response site: https://www.hungerfreecolorado.org/covid-19/
The United Way of Larimer County:
Colorado PEAK:
Loveland’s Community Kitchen: https://www.lovelandcommunitykitchen.org/
Vindeket Foods: https://www.vindeketfoods.org/about
Growing Food Security
Growing Food Security is based out of ARDEC and is managed by graduate students, who grow literal numerical tons of food benefitting the Rams Against Hunger Pantry annually.
This program gives folks experiencing food security access to nutritious, fresh, and local produce.
To sign up to volunteer with GFS click HERE.
Experiencing food insecurity or any other kind of basic needs insecurities?
Additional information and resources can be found at BasicNeeds.colostate.edu or at You@CSU.
Meet Your Basic Needs Team:
