Experience Change. Experience Community. Experience Compassion.

According to a recent campus wide survey:

  • 57% of APSU students face food insecurity. This includes skipping meals, stretching meal plans to make it through the semester, constant stress about the high cost of groceries, and a lack of access to nutritious, fresh produce and protein sources.
  • 56% reported that financial stress was impacting their academic performance.
  • 54% are first generation students, many of whom lack a support system or financial safety net.

Student Basic Needs include the essentials that help you feel secure and able to focus on your goals. At Austin Peay State University, we understand that challenges related to food, housing, or finances can happen, and you are not alone. Our team is here to connect you with resources such as food assistance, housing support, financial guidance, healthcare, childcare, and clothing for school or work. If you need support, we are here for you. Feel free to reach out or stop by 322 Home Street, the white house with the red door.

You are not alone. We’ve got your back.

Our department ensures that students can connect with essential resources necessary to take care of basic needs, including:

Food Security: Access to nutritious and sufficient food

Housing Stability: Secure and stable housing

Financial Wellness: Ability to manage finances and meet financial obligations

Healthcare: Access to affordable and quality healthcare services

Childcare: Affordable and reliable childcare options

Clothing: Adequate clothing for weather, school, and employment

If you are facing challenges related to basic needs, such as food insecurity, housing displacement, or financial crisis, we encourage you to reach out to us for assistance.

Support Our Students Food Pantry

About the Pantry

The S.O.S. Food Pantry supports Austin Peay State University students during challenging times by helping address food insecurity. The pantry is sustained through donations from the campus community, ensuring students have access to essential food resources.

Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location:

322 Home Avenue (Walk down the driveway to your left. We're in the garage area of the small, white house.)

Eligibility & Access

The S.O.S. Food Pantry is available to all Austin Peay State University students, staff, and faculty experiencing food insecurity. Pantry users may visit the pantry once per week, as needed, and must present a valid APSU student identification card at the time of their visit.

Volunteering with the Food Pantry

Pantry volunteers help build a community where the pantry is a warm and welcoming place to shop as we respect the dignity of each person we serve.

Volunteer shifts: Tuesday-Friday, 9 AM – 4:00 PM, in two hour shifts

Tasks include: welcoming and assisting pantry visitors, helping with check-out, keeping the space clean, and organizing, stocking, and tracking pantry items and donations.

Volunteer Sign up link

Meal Swipe Program

With the support of Sodexo dining services, APSU offers supplemental meal swipes to students who need an extra meal. These meal swipes are ONLY good for access to the Food Hall and will be loaded onto student ID cards once the student receives a confirmation email.

  • Students who have a 10 or more weekly meal plan are not eligible for this assistance.
  • Students who have only the flex and meal dollars do qualify for this assistance.
  • Students who don't have any meal plan do qualify for this assistance.
  • Students must be enrolled in the current semester
  • Meals are good for the semester they are received in but do not roll over to the next semester.
  • At this time, faculty and staff do not qualify for this program, but graduate students do qualify.

Learn More

Emergency Assistance Funds

Austin Peay State University offers financial assistance to students, faculty, and staff who face unexpected hardships. Eligible individuals can apply for support through the SOS Food Pantry for various expenses, including auto, medical, childcare, natural disasters, and more. Generous donors make this critical support possible.

Learn More

Resources in the local community

Navigating through life's challenges can be overwhelming, but knowing where to find help can make a significant difference. This guide provides information on various resources available in the local community, addressing essential needs such as food, housing, and utility assistance. Whether you're facing food insecurity, struggling to find shelter, or need support with utility bills, organizations are ready to offer support. Explore the following sections to discover the services and programs that can help you or someone you know in times of need.

Manna Cafe

Manna Cafe provides free meals and food assistance to individuals and families in the Clarksville community who are experiencing food insecurity. Services include hot meals served on-site, access to pantry items, and mobile food distributions designed to meet immediate nutritional needs in a welcoming and supportive environment.

Learn More

Loaves & Fishes

Loaves and Fishes provides food assistance to individuals and families in the Clarksville community who are experiencing food insecurity. Services include access to a food pantry and emergency food support to help meet immediate nutritional needs. The availability and frequency of services may vary depending on individual needs and eligibility.

Learn More

Urban Ministries

Clarksville Urban Ministries provides emergency assistance to individuals and families in need. Services include help with utility bills, food boxes available once every 30 days, and medication vouchers. All services are provided to qualifying individuals based on eligibility requirements.

Learn More

For inquiries related to the S.O.S. Food Pantry, basic needs assistance, or emergency funding, please contact Olivia Lahann, Basic Needs Coordinator, at lahanno@apsu.edu or (931) 221-6593. Please allow adequate time for a response.