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Food Resources

food resources programs and other support services

On-Campus

  • Fresh Ideas: If your class schedule or other circumstances prevent you from using your meal plan during typical hours, contact the Fresh Ideas Director to help you develop a to-go meal plan. The Fresh Ideas director can be contacted by email at esudining@emporia.edu or by phone at 620-341-5903.
    If you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions that cause you concern for your ability to use your meal plan, schedule a meeting with the Fresh Ideas director by email at esudining@emporia.edu or by phone at 620-341-5903. If you have a severe, medically-diagnosed and documented dietary condition and Fresh Ideas cannot meet your needs, contact Student Accessibility and Support Service (SASS) at sass@emporia.edu or 620-341-6637 to inquire about applying for a Meal Plan Medical Exemption.
  • Corky's Cupboard: Corky's Cupboard campus food pantry is to foster a healthy university community by providing temporary food assistance to alleviate hunger. Learn more about Corky's Cupboard.

Emporia and Greater Lyon County

The following are food assistance programs and services in the Emporia area:

  • Abundant Harvest Food Kitchen.
  • Americus Community Food Pantry.
  • Blessing Boxes (1702 W 15th, 420 W 15th or the 700 of Block of Commercial).
  • Catholic Charities Resource Bus.
  • Church of Christ (Friday meals).
  • ECKAN.
  • First Christian Church Food Pantry.
  • First Congregational Church Pantry.
  • First United Methodist Church Pantry.
  • Food for Students.
  • Grace United Methodist Church (Blessing Box Food Pantry & Gardens).
  • Heritage Pentecostal Church Pantry.
  • Lyon County WIC.
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church’s John and Frances Ice Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.
  • Salvation Army.
  • United Methodist Campus Ministry (Monday night meal).

SNAP Benefits

Some ESU students may be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP benefits. Find more information and learn about your eligibility on the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service website. You can also call the Emporia office phone number at 620-342-2505. In Kansas, you can apply online on the Kansas Department for Children and Families website.

Resources Beyond Emporia

  • For those elsewhere in Kansas, check listings available through the Kansas Food Bank. Call 316-265-3663, e-mail info@kansasfoodbank.org or visit the “Need Food” page on the organization’s website for information about food assistance in your area.
  • The WhyHunger Hotline can connect you with food assistance resources local to you. Call 1-800-5-HUNGRY (English) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (Spanish), text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479 or use the form on www.whyhunger.org to locate a local emergency food provider and other support services.

The United Way can connect individuals with community resources. The United Way also supports 211, a free and confidential service that helps people across North America find the local resources they need 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Relevant Campus + Community Organizations 

In addition to the organizations identified above, the following are campus and community organizations that are working to address food insecurity and equity issues in our local food system: 

  • EAT Initiative
    • This is a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort to address food insecurity on Emporia State University’s campus and in the greater Emporia community. 
  • Hornets Against Hunger
    • This is a registered student organization dedicated to fighting food insecurity. Work together on community service projects focused on helping those who face the challenge, including a community garden that provides fresh produce for Corky’s Cupboard. 
  • Lyon County Food + Farm Council
    • This is an entity commissioned by the Lyon County Commissioners that aims to identify and propose innovative solutions to improve local food systems and improve health outcomes for the citizens of Lyon County.
  • Healthier Lyon County
    • The mission of Healthier Lyon County (HLC) is to support and encourage initiatives, policies and resources to improve the health and well-being of residents of Lyon County. This includes work related to access to healthy food. 
Related Topics
  1. Diversity + Inclusion