About Cats' Cupboard

Cats' Cupboard Initiative is a collaborative effort among students, faculty, staff, and community focused on promoting food security at K-State. We provide direct food access through an on-campus food pantry, in addition to education and engagement opportunities. Cats' Cupboard is accessible to all K-State students and employees.

Cats' Cupboard Mission

Providing K-Staters with access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food and support through initiatives that promote health, success, well-being and a food secure future.

Cats' Cupboard Vision

Food is a basic need for health, success and well-being. Dedicated to increasing food security and improving the sustainability of our local food system, we aim to learn alongside, collaborate with, and inspire the K-State community to pursue individual and collective health and well-being.

Guiding Principles

  1. WE believe access to nutritious food is a basic human right.
  2. WE respect the dignity of every human being.
  3. WE collaborate to effect change and support student success.
  4. WE practice good stewardship of knowledge and resources.

Evidence of Need

The American College Health Association - National College Health Assessment (NCHA) was administered in early Spring 2024. A total of 10,000 students were randomly selected from those students enrolled for Spring 2024 at the Manhattan campus. The final sample was 1,304 completed surveys for a 13% response rate. The ACHA-NCHA included a validated scale measuring food security, the USDA Food Security 6-Item Short Form from the USDA Economic Research Service.

Data from the NCHA revealed the following regarding K-State students in Spring 2024:

  • 56.4% report high or marginal food security
  • 25.1% report low food security
  • 18.4% report very low food security

In other words, 43.6% of surveyed participants at K-State report food insecurity, consistent with national trends.