Now through October 31, we're waiving application fees for all domestic freshman and transfer applicants!
*Common app code: Central27
Hunger and food insecurity affect thousands of individuals and families around the country every day. At CMU, as many as one in every three students may be experiencing hunger. The Student Food Pantry is here to support students who need a little extra help, so they can focus on their academic success.
The Student Food Pantry is located at 1200 S Washington St (Robinson Hall), Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858. The location is accessible via mobile device maps and includes on campus walking directions.
We are open weekly!
Summer Hours (Beginning May 11, 2026):
- Tuesday: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- Friday: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Semester Hours (Resumes August 17, 2026):
- Monday: 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
- Tuesday: 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
- Friday: 12 - 3:00 p.m.
If you are experiencing food insecurity, please create a profile on PantrySoft and fill out the Registration Form questions. The Student Food Pantry also offers care products (hygiene, cleaning, some kitchen, and school supplies).
First time visiting the Pantry? Stop in during our open hours and we'll help you get started -- no appointment or registration necessary.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Pantry located?
The CMU Student Food Pantry is located under the Robinson Residential Restaurant near the North Campus Success Center. The address for the pantry is 1200 S Washington St (Robinson Hall), Mt Pleasant, MI 48858.
What are the requirements to receive support?
All currently enrolled CMU students are eligible to use the Student Food Pantry. There are no financial eligibility requirements. The Student Food Pantry is a resource for any student in need to use so they can focus on the things that really matter at CMU. Students frequently use the Pantry weekly to make ends meet, during breaks when they aren't working, if they were sick and missed a few days at work one week, and a variety of other reasons. If you could use some extra support in making your grocery dollars stretch, we hope you'll visit us.
Where can I find hygiene or cleaning products?
The Student Food Pantry offers a wide array of common hygiene products, cooking/food preparation utensils, cleaning products, and school supplies to meet your needs.
Are there other resources for students in need?
Several local non-profits are here to help students in need, including:
Clothing Inc.
Care Store
Financial Wellness Collaborative
Isabella County Restoration House
General Resource Assistance - dial 211
Salvation Army - Please call 989-773-4663
Max & Emily's, located downtown Mount Pleasant (125 E Broadway), is offering meals to people in need every day from 11:00 am- 2:00 pm. Please mention People Helping People (PHP).
More local resources can be found on our Food Resources document.
For students residing outside of the greater Mount Pleasant area, check out our Student Resources document.
Contact the Student Food Pantry in the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center at 989-774-7685 or via email at foodpantry@cmich.edu for assistance connecting to any other needs.
How can I refer a student to the Student Food Pantry?
Please complete the referral form on the Student Food Pantry Engage Central page and we'll reach out directly to the student with information about resources available at CMU and in the community. Thank you for supporting CMU students.
How can I support the Student Food Pantry?
Food and care item donations for the Student Food Pantry can be dropped off at the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center, located in the Bovee University Center, room 106. Please see the list of donation needs linked below and on the CMU Student Food Pantry Engage Portal.
Monetary donations in support of the Pantry can be made on our Fund CMU page.
What if I am not a student?
Several local non-profits support he local community's needs, including:
Isabella County Restoration House
Isabella Community Soup Kitchen
United Way General Assistance - Dial 211
Salvation Army - Please call 989-773-4663
STI Testing and Health Resources
Central Michigan District Health Department
CMDHD provides the most affordable STI testing services and health care in the Mt. Pleasant area.
Health and Wellness
Students in need of health care can find resources at CMU Student Health Services. On-campus clinics are staffed with board-certified health care professionals who can provide the treatment you need. Our staff can also work hand-in-hand with your family doctor or specialist to manage ongoing treatments and services while you are attending CMU.
The Student Food Pantry encourages students to know their status and get tested once a year (or between partners) to help stop the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Please call the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center at 989-774-7685 or email foodpantry@cmich.edu with any other questions.
Astronaut Dr. John Herrington visits CMU as part of Astronauts for America
by
Symantha Dattilo
CMU welcomed astronaut Dr. John Herrington to campus on September 16 as part of the Astronauts for America, For America college tour, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and community members for an evening centered on civic engagement, leadership, and representation. -copy.png?Status=Master&sfvrsn=e4d7c0ed_4 "Dr. Herrington")
The event was hosted through a partnership between the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center's Central Votes program and the Office of Indigenous Affairs and was held in CMU's Center for Student Inclusion and Diversity (CSID).
For Kasey Perez, director of the Office of Indigenous Affairs, Herrington's visit represented an important opportunity to bring Indigenous representation and civic engagement together on campus.
"We appreciated the opportunity to highlight the importance of civic engagement and our shared responsibility to vote," Perez said. "Dr. Herrington’s message reminded us that our voices matter, and that each of us has the opportunity to make our voice heard in our communities and beyond."
Herrington, a former NASA astronaut and member of the Chickasaw Nation, made history as the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space. His visit offered the CMU community an opportunity to hear from someone whose experiences span military service, space exploration, education, and advocacy.
As part of the Astronauts for America college tour, Herrington's appearance also connected his personal journey to the importance of civic participation. The conversation encouraged attendees to consider how individual voices and experiences contribute to their communities and to the democratic process.
The collaboration between Central Votes and the Office of Indigenous Affairs provided an opportunity to connect civic engagement programming with Indigenous representation and perspectives. Bringing Herrington to campus allowed students to see how leadership and service can take many forms.
With more than 60 attendees filling the CSID, the event demonstrated the power of campus partnerships to create meaningful educational experiences beyond the classroom.
Herrington's visit also served as a reminder that civic engagement is about more than any single election. It is about recognizing the ability each person has to contribute, lead and help shape the future of their community.
For Central Votes and the Office of Indigenous Affairs, the evening provided an opportunity to bring those ideas together while giving the CMU community the chance to learn from a trailblazer whose own story reflects the impact of service and representation.