Student Wellness Center

RU-Camden Scarlet Raptor Nest

The Scarlet Raptor’s Nest

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Do you ever….

  • Worry that you do not have enough money for food?
  • Cut or skip meal because you don’t have enough money to buy food?
  • Find yourself to eat balanced or nutritious meals because of lack of money?
  • Go hungry because of a lack of money?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you are eligible to utilize the Scarlet Raptor’s Nest!

The Scarlet Raptor’s Nest is donation-based and works to aid the campus community of Rutgers-Camden facing food insecurity. In the 2022-2023 New Jersey Food Security Survey conducted by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE), it was reported that 40% of survey respondents qualified as foo­d insecure, meaning many students do not have reliable access to enough affordable nutritious food to maintain good health and our goal is to help fight hunger on campus. 

How the Panty came about?

The food pantry was established in 2017 to address nutritional needs and combat food insecurity on campus. Originally, we operated out of the Student Wellness Center breakroom, serving approximately 30 students per week. This stretched until the COVID-19 outbreak where we developed a contactless system where students were able to place orders by phone and pick up at their earliest convenience. When we reopened, we noticed a gradual increase in students each week, reaching up to about 60 students in our smaller space. At the start of the 2023 Fall Semester, The Chancellor gave us the opportunity to move into a new space where we could alter the set-up of our food pantry to appear more as a store, offering our students more autonomy and dignity when using the pantry. We are now proud to serve over 200 students per week, offering perishables, non-perishables, fresh produce, meat, snacks, beverages, toiletries, hygiene products and much more. The food pantry is open Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm- 4pm and is open to all full-time and part-time students.

Hours of Operation

The Scarlet Raptor’s Nest is open on Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3:45 pm. 

You are welcome to come to the pantry once per week. 

Call the Scarlet Raptor’s Nest to make an appointment on Tuesday and Thursdays from 1 to 3:45 pm. You may call to make appointments only a week in advance, up to 12pm the day of the appointment. Unfortunately, we cannot accept walk-ins.

856-225-6005

  • LOCATION: Offices at 215, Room 119
  • CONTACT: 856-225-6005 or e-mail Talia Smith, Program Coordinator, Student Health at talia.smith1@rutgers.edu

Eligibility

Available to all students with a Rutgers ID, Rutgers Alumni & Rutgers Staff/Faculty. 

Raptor’s Nest Guidelines:

  • Because we stock the shelves through donations, most of our food comes from food drives, individual donations and help of organizations including student groups. This means that foods on our shelves will change over time.
  • Please note: “Sell by” dates do not indicate food safety. “Best by” dates indicate to the customer when the manufacturer ensures the product will have its best quality, and it is also not meant to indicate food safety. “Use by” dates are also set by the manufacturer to indicate to the customer when the product is at its peak quality. Eating food after its “best by”, “use by” or “sell by” date means that the product might not taste as good as if it was fresh but should not indicate any food safety concern. 
  • As we continue to grow, the demand for items will increase. Please keep in mind that others use the nest and it’s important for everyone to take only what they need. 
  • Please be mindful that the Scarlet Raptor’s Nest operates on some limits including the time spent in the nest (4 minutes per cohort~10 people) and how much can be taken (8lbs per nest visit). If you have a special circumstance, please let us know. 
  • We are happy that you are here to use the nest. We will always treat you with respect and ask that you treat the staff and other shoppers with respect. We ask that you also respect the privacy of other people using the Scarlet Raptor’s Nest.

Get Involved

Donations

Rutgers University Foundation’s Tax ID number is 23-7318742 

All donations to any/all Rutgers University departments, schools, campuses, etc. route through our Rutgers University Foundation, and that mailing address is:

Attn: Finance Department

Rutgers University Foundation

P.O. Box 193

New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0193

If you wish to give electronically, you can do to give.rutgers.edu and type “Rutgers-Camden Food Pantry” into the search box to be able to specifically direct your generous donation.

  • Donate food
    • Drop off food at the Raptor’s Nest during our opening hours. If unavailable, you may reach out to make other arrangements with Talia Smith at talia.smith1@rutgers.edu.
  • Make a donation
    • Financial contributions to the Scarlet Raptor’s Nest go further, allowing us to purchase highly requested specialty items for our campus community. Please email Madrid Moore, Operations Coordinator at madridm@rutgers.edu or call 856-225-2702 to make arrangements to provide financial contributions.
  • Organize a food drive
    • You can organize a food drive with your student organizations, workplace, house of worship, or groups of friends/peers. Email Talia Smith at talia.smith1@rutgers.edu or call 856-225-2921 and we can provide you with the information and support needed to host a food drive.
  • We stock the pantry shelves through donations. Most of our food comes from food drives, individual donations and the help of organizations including student groups. This means that the foods you see on the shelves will change over time.
  • Because we work from donations, we will sometimes struggle to keep up with demand, especially as we grow. Please keep in mind that others use the pantry. Take only what you need.
  • Please be mindful of our guidelines for quantity limits on food. If you have a special circumstance, please let us know.
  • We are happy that you are here to use the pantry. We will always treat you with respect and ask that you treat the staff and other shoppers with respect. We ask that you also respect the privacy of other people you may see in the pantry.
  • You are welcome to come to the pantry once per week. You may come every week, or just when you need our help.

Additional Resources