Bears Can-Do Food Drive – Fall 2026

October 30, 2026 by Anita Sam

The Bear Pantry, created in 2019, exists to provide a sense of belonging and inclusion, support students’ basic needs and combat food insecurity on campus. Last year, the Enrollment Management team sponsored the first annual Bears Can-Do Food Drive and raised the equivalent of 2,749.2 pounds of food and supplies for the Bear Pantry. This year, we are again inviting Every Bear from Every Where to participate and surpass last year’s donations.

Need to Know Details

The drive will take place from November 2nd through November 30th.

You may take donations directly to the Bear Pantry during operating hours; or as an office or organization, you may choose to deliver all items at once. Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to complete the donation form while at the Bear Pantry to receive Can-Do credit! In a rush? Download the Bear Pantry Donation Form and bring it with you!

Financial donations are also accepted through our crowdsourcing page. Be sure to include all your details for accurate tracking and awarding.

Fall 2026 Donation Hours

Monday | 4.p.m. – 7p.m.
- Donations can be taken in as early as 10:00am
Tuesday | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday | 10 a.m. – 4p.m.
Thursday | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday | CLOSED

The Bear Pantry will be closed for Thanksgiving break: November 21-29.

What Can Be Donated?

The Bear Pantry accepts many items for donation. Shelf stable items like canned and dried goods, or herbs and spices; even perishable items like fresh produce, eggs, and dairy products. You can also donate general household items like cleaning supplies, paper goods, hygiene items, etc. See the donation guides below for more ideas:

Food Items

Canned/Jarred Goods

Dry Goods

Other

Seasonings/Spices

Meats: salmon, tuna, chicken
Vegetables (reduced, low sodium): mixed vegetable, green beans, corn, carrots, beans, etc.
Pasta sauce
Peanut butter: creamy or crunchy
Canned soups and pastas (reduced, low sodium preferred)
Canned fruit (packed in juice)

Dried legumes: lentils, beans, etc.
Grains: microwavable brown rice, quinoa, etc.
Whole grain pasta
Oatmeal (container and instant reduced sugar packets)
Cereal: Cheerios, Life, Special K, shredded wheat, bran, etc.
Granola bars
Macaroni and cheese (box and microwavable)

Cottage cheese
Greek yogurt or low-fat yogurt
Fresh produce
Snack items: chips, trail mix, etc.
Healthy cooking oils: olive, avocado, etc.

Salt and pepper
Ground spices: coriander, curry, turmeric, ginger, etc.
Chili powder
Onion powder
Garlic powder

Non-Food Items

Hygiene Items

Household Items

Hand sanitizer
Band aids
Triple antibiotic ointment
Mouth rinse and toothpaste
Deodorant
Hand soap
Facial cleanser
Body wash
Body lotion
Shampoo and conditioner
Feminine hygiene products

Paper towels
Toilet paper
Paper plates
Trash bags
Disinfecting wipes
Laundry detergent pods
Dryer sheets
Dish soap
All-purpose cleaner
School supplies

Please note that at this time, kosher and Hallal items cannot be accepted. Due to limited space and resources, special handling and storage of these items cannot be guaranteed. If you are in need of kosher or Hallal items, please contact the Bear Pantry directly for resources.

How Does My Organization Win?

To win, your organization must donate the most food/funds per person. For example, if two teams both donate 100 pounds of food (or the equivalent with consideration to financial donations) and Team A has 10 team members and Team B has 20, Team A will win.

Team A: 100 pounds = 10 people x 10 pounds per person

Team B: 100 pounds = 20 people x 5 pounds per person

Special Considerations for Monetary Donations

In order for an organization, office, or department to receive credit, the donor will need to indicate which area they are donating on behalf of. Be sure to write the full name of the organization without any abbreviations to prevent miscrediting.

LETS SHOW EVERYONE THAT BEARS CAN-DO FOOD DRIVES!

DONATE

Want to help the Bear Pantry in other ways?

Shop our Amazon Wishlist

Set up recurring donations through payroll deduction

Volunteer your time

Serve Where You Live

October 15, 2026 by Ian Williams

SPRINGFIELD SERVICE GUIDE

Serve where you live.

From packing food to mentoring young readers, Springfield offers students meaningful ways to put Missouri State’s public affairs mission into practice.

Updated October 15, 2026 · Opportunities and requirements can change; confirm details with each organization.

Students take part in community service with Springfield Community Gardens. Photo: Missouri State University News.

Service can be a one-time Saturday project, a weekly mentoring relationship or part of an academic experience. This guide brings together trusted campus resources and established Springfield-area organizations so students can find a fit by cause, schedule and commitment level.

Start at Missouri State

The university offers several pathways into service, including campus-based volunteering, academic service-learning and longer-term leadership programs.

Find and track service through GivePulse

Missouri State recommends GivePulse for finding community service opportunities posted by Springfield-area partners and logging service hours. The platform is also used for Bear Pantry volunteering and the city’s Clean Green Springfield initiative.

Start here: Visit the CCE website for current guidance, or see the Bear Pantry group on GivePulse.

Volunteer with Bear Pantry

Located within the CCE behind Starbucks in the Plaster Student Union, Bear Pantry provides food and hygiene resources to members of the campus community facing food insecurity. Students can sign up for two-hour volunteer shifts, help with donation drives and support partner projects.

Contact: bearpantry@missouristate.edu · Volunteer on GivePulse

Connect coursework with community needs through CASL

Citizenship and Service-Learning (CASL) offers one-credit service-learning courses tailored to students’ professional goals and connects them with community partners.

Learn about CASL

Use eligible service toward a parking citation

The Student Government Association’s Bear With Me program allows students to work off eligible MSU parking citations—up to $50, twice per year—by completing at least two hours of service with an organization posted on GivePulse and logging the service through CampusLink.

Review the Bear With Me program form

13 Springfield organizations looking for volunteers

Use the filters to narrow this directory by area of interest. Each listing links to an official site or volunteer page; contact the organization directly for current openings and schedules.

Photos: Habitat for Humanity and Ozarks Food Harvest.

1. Ozarks Food Harvest

The Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri serves hunger-relief organizations across 28 Ozarks counties.

Volunteer roles: Sort, inspect and pack food on weekdays, or fill bags for the Weekend Backpack Program during Saturday sessions.

Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 12; ages 12–15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Closed-toe shoes and advance registration are required.

Volunteer with Ozarks Food Harvest

2. The Kitchen, Inc.

The Kitchen, Inc. helps people experiencing homelessness find stability through housing, emergency shelter and youth services.

Volunteer roles: Front desk hospitality, donation sorting, kit assembly, life-skills instruction, group improvement projects and meal preparation for Rare Breed Youth Services.

Requirements: Volunteers must be at least 11; those under 18 must have an adult guardian, advisor or group leader. Recurring volunteers complete a Family Care Safety Registry check with a one-time $15 fee. Rare Breed meal volunteers during youth hours must be 25 or older.

Volunteer with The Kitchen, Inc.

3. Habitat for Humanity of Springfield, MO

Habitat builds and renovates affordable homes for Greene County families; its ReStore helps fund the mission.

Volunteer roles: Construction work such as painting, drywall, flooring and framing; ReStore customer service and organization; and neighborhood cleanups. No construction experience is required.

Requirements: Construction-site volunteers must be 18 or older. Advance registration and closed-toe shoes are required; construction shifts are offered Wednesday through Saturday.

Volunteer with Habitat Springfield

4. Harmony House

Harmony House provides shelter, advocacy and education for survivors of domestic violence.

Volunteer roles: Building and maintenance help, administrative work, donation sorting and event support for fundraisers such as the Purple Party and Halloween Hustle.

Requirements: Call 417-837-7700 for current openings. Purple Party volunteers must be 21 or older.

Visit Harmony House

5. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks

The organization creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that help young people realize their potential.

Volunteer roles: Serve as a community-based Big, visit a student as a Lunch Buddy or support matches and events.

Requirements: Lunch Buddies commit to 30 minutes each week for one year and must pass a background check.

Explore mentoring opportunities

6. Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield

The Clubs help young people—especially those who need support most—reach their potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.

Volunteer roles: Tutoring and homework help, mentoring, arts, sports, game room support, facilities upkeep and special events.

Requirements: The current application process was not confirmed. Check the organization’s website or call 417-862-9249 ext. 104 for current needs before planning service.

Visit Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield

7. Ozarks Literacy Council

Trained volunteer tutors help children and adults improve literacy skills and confidence.

Volunteer roles: Meet weekly with a learner for one-to-one reading instruction or visit preschool classrooms with lessons and books.

Requirements: Volunteers must be 18 or older, read at a high school level, complete a monthly tutor training session, pass a background check and commit to helping a learner reach their goals.

Volunteer with Ozarks Literacy Council

8. CoxHealth Volunteer Services

Volunteers support CoxHealth’s mission to improve community health and often serve as the first point of welcome for patients and visitors.

Volunteer roles: Guest ambassador, Emergency Department support, gift shops, information desk, patient escort, pastoral care, pet therapy, veteran visits and patient-floor assistance.

Requirements: Applicants must be at least 15 and complete an application, interview, background check, drug screening, immunization screening and orientation. NICU cuddlers first complete 40 CoxHealth volunteer hours.

Explore CoxHealth volunteer roles

9. Springfield Community Gardens

The organization creates gardens that strengthen neighborhoods through healthy relationships, local food and community.

Volunteer roles: Plant, weed and harvest; build garden beds; deliver produce; teach cooking or gardening; and help at distribution sites and community fridges.

Requirements: Volunteers sign an online waiver and register through the volunteer portal before serving.

Get involved with Springfield Community Gardens

10. Ozark Greenways

Ozark Greenways builds a trail system that connects and enhances the Springfield community.

Volunteer roles: Join quarterly trail work days, collect trash on any trail, serve on a committee or support an approved service project.

Requirements: Any part of the volunteer program can qualify for community service hours. Contact John Montgomery at john@ozarkgreenways.org or 417-501-4674 to arrange service.

Volunteer with Ozark Greenways

11. Humane Society of Southwest Missouri

This private nonprofit shelter works to find homes for every adoptable animal that enters its care.

Volunteer roles: Adoption support, kennel care, transport, events, fostering, group service days and Reading for Rescue, which invites volunteers to read aloud to shelter animals.

Requirements: Submit a volunteer form online. Volunteers under 15 need a guardian to submit a form as well. Transport volunteers must be 25 or older and have a clean driving record.

Volunteer with the Humane Society

12. Convoy of Hope

The Springfield-based global nonprofit provides food, supplies and disaster services to people facing poverty and humanitarian crises.

Volunteer roles: Hope Crew warehouse sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, disaster response, truck driving and farm support.

Requirements: No volunteers under 10. Ages 10–12 must be with a parent or legal guardian; ages 13–17 need parental consent. Closed-toe shoes are required, and groups of 10 or more must pre-register.

Get involved with Convoy of Hope

13. American Red Cross — Missouri & Arkansas Region

The Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies and provides relief after disasters.

Volunteer roles: Disaster Action Team, Blood Donor Ambassador, Services to the Armed Forces and preparedness education.

Requirements: Disaster Action Team training requires advance registration; training is provided.

Volunteer with the Red Cross

About current availability: Fine details such as shift times may change seasonally. The Boys & Girls Clubs volunteer application process could not be confirmed during research; students should contact the Club directly before making plans.

Put these annual service events on your radar

These recurring events can be a good fit for students who want a defined, one-time commitment. Dates and registration windows change from year to year.

June (Past)

United Way of the Ozarks Day of Caring

The region’s largest single-day volunteer event connects teams with nonprofit projects across the area. The 34th annual event on June 18, 2026 included 114 project sites and more than 1,300 volunteers. Nonprofits post projects on United Way’s Live United platform, and registration is free.

Read the 2026 event coverage

October

City Utilities Halloween Hustle

This 5K, 10K and one-mile costume race benefits Harmony House. Volunteers support traffic control, water and food stations, packet distribution and games.

Check Halloween Hustle details

November

Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk

Springfield’s Thanksgiving Day tradition benefits the Developmental Center of the Ozarks and the Park Board Youth Recreation Scholarship Fund. Participants also bring nonperishable food for Ozarks Food Harvest, and race-day volunteer roles are available through the Park Board.

Visit the Turkey Trot page

April–May

Clean Green Springfield

Individuals, families, teams, businesses and neighborhood groups join citywide cleanup and beautification projects. The city provides trash bags, and service hours are tracked through GivePulse.

Explore Clean Green Springfield

Throughout the year

Missouri State service days

Watch for Bear Blitz, Acts of Kindness Week in February, César Chávez Day of Service on March 31, Public Affairs Service Week in April, Bear Service Team projects and campus blood drives. A blood donation counts as one service hour.

Follow MSU service updates

Before you volunteer

Choose the commitment you can keep. A one-time event, recurring shift and yearlong mentoring match each ask something different. Be realistic about transportation, coursework and work schedules.
Read the requirements. Age minimums, background checks, training, footwear and advance registration vary by organization.
Confirm the current opening. Volunteer calendars and seasonal needs change. Use the official link in this guide, then contact the organization if details are unclear.
Ask how to document your hours. If hours are for a class, scholarship or student organization, confirm the required verification method before serving.
Follow through. Arrive on time, communicate early if plans change and respect the people and communities the organization serves.

One city, many ways to contribute

Meaningful service begins with showing up consistently and listening well. Whether you have two hours this month or time every week, Springfield has a place where your skills can support the community—and where the experience can deepen your own education.

Need help choosing? Contact the Center for Community Engagement at cce@missouristate.edu or volunteer@missouristate.edu, call 417-836-5774, or visit Plaster Student Union 131.

Research completed October 15, 2026 using official organization pages and reputable local sources. Confirm dates, eligibility and openings directly with the organization before serving.

3 Things I’ve Learned Through Being a Bear Pantry GA

May 4, 2026 by Natalie A. Clayton

Hi, I’m Natalie, and I’ve worked at the Bear Pantry for the past nine months. I’m the one who’s written all these blogs you’ve been reading this past academic year. I’m also graduating this week (yay, go me!), and this is my last blog to write. So, I thought it was appropriate to share what I’ve learned. I could probably name a hundred, but for the sake of keeping it a readable blog, I’ve narrowed it down to three.

Food pantries require adaptability.

The Bear Pantry relies on food banks, donations, volunteers, and a million other tiny details to serve our members. If one of those variables falls short, we will find one way or another to make it work. For example, Monday mornings are our days to unload, scan, and stock the 1200-pound orders from our local food bank (shoutout Ozarks Food Harvest!). It’s a hectic process yet operates like a well-oiled machine. But if no volunteers show up? Time to pivot! Our team prioritizes items to distribute and saves the rest for when we have more time.

Being a donation-based service, some months we are way more stocked than others. During November (Homecoming Drive) and April (Greek Week’s food drive) we were distributing about 200% of our normal amount. With donations, we then get creative on how to backstock items to provide consistent distributions during the week. You gotta be adaptable!

This resource is needed

People have walked through the Bear Pantry’s doors over 11,000 times this past year…that’s like the whole town (Harrisonville, Nevada, or Poplar Bluff) coming to PSU 140.

I didn’t realize just how. Many. People. Use. The. Pantry. People have walked through the Bear Pantry’s doors over 11,000 times this past year. Let that sink in. If you know any of the Missouri towns Harrisonville, Nevada, or Poplar Bluff, that’s like the whole town coming to PSU 140.

The Bear Pantry has a stellar team.

We have workers who truly care about making the Bear Pantry more accessible, available, and dignified. Not only is the work culture supportive, positive, and fun-loving, so is our approach to members. The Bear Pantry team has its members on the forefront of our minds as we seek to improve our services. It’s a culture of innovation, and I’m excited to see where it goes from the other side (as an alumni x2).

If you’ve read until here, wow. I’m glad you did. I hope you’ve gained a new appreciation for this campus resource! I will miss working for the Bear Pantry!

Get involved here!

Delta Dental Continues Support of the Bear Pantry

April 22, 2026 by Natalie A. Clayton

Delta Dental helped meet basic needs for members of the Bear Pantry in March of 2026 by providing 375 oral health products. These are tools needed to accomplish our first task of the mornings: brushing our teeth.

Delta Dental’s generous in-kind donation to the MSU Foundation allowed the Bear Pantry to supply 175 households with a complete set of toothbrushes, toothpastes, and flossers. Accompanying the supplies was a flier providing “5 Tips for Healthy Teeth.”

Flier displayed actionable tips for oral health along with hygiene items.

What stands out about this donation is how it ties to food insecurity. Often, those experiencing high levels of food insecurity have less access to dental care. Instead of worrying about a perfect 45-degree angle when brushing those shiny whites, many people just want the option to brush. By supplying oral hygiene kits to the Bear Pantry, Delta Dental is helping members have access to essential personal care items.

All items were distributed within a day, highlighting the donation’s impact. “At the Bear Pantry, we know that student success is deeply connected to overall health,” said Alex Johnson, Director of the Center for Community Engagement. “Thanks to Delta Dental, our members now have access to vital oral care resources—helping remove barriers so they can focus on their education and future.”

The Bear Pantry strives to eliminate food insecurity and increase access to basic needs for Missouri State students, faculty, and staff. They provide nutritious food, personal care items, and school supplies at no cost. Driven by donations, the Bear Pantry is furthering its mission through Delta Dental’s hygiene-focused gift.

We look forward to a continued partnership with Delta Dental.

Donate to the Bear Pantry

Fun-to-Knows with the Bear Pantry

March 13, 2026 by Natalie A. Clayton

We are officially past the halfway point of the semester! As we head into Spring Break, here are some updates and fun-to-knows about your university’s food pantry.

Pantry Updates

Last semester, we received a grant from Swipe Out Hunger, the nation’s largest non-profit organization to support university food pantries, allowing us to purchase an additional refrigeration unit for the Bear Pantry! It is housed in the backroom and has been used to store cold overstock items like eggs and bakery items. The new fridge will support additional food to restock the main fridges throughout the week, allowing us to serve over 350 people weekly.

Fun Facts

Now for some interesting facts and tidbits about the Bear Pantry!

Bear Pantry’s Beginnings and Milestones

The Bear pantry was founded in 2019 as a continuation of a project Alex Johnson, Director of the CCE, was working on with a graduate student. Since its conception, the Bear Pantry has seen steady growth. We now distribute over seven times the amount of food and have almost four times the number of members as our first year!
We obtain our food through several ways. Ozarks Food Harvest is our main food supplier, and we use donated money to purchase food items. We also partner with Campus Gardens; they donate fresh produce during growing seasons. Donations also drive our supply through drives, campus donation bins, and anonymous gifts through our Amazon Wishlist.
We receive grant funding through the Student Sustainability Fund which has supported a significant part of our operations.

Bear Pantry’s Longest Staff Member

Our longest staff member is our Area Manager, Reish Burnett, who has served with us for three years. His study in dietetics compliments his work at the Bear Pantry where he manages the hydroponics towers, emphasizes food safety, and focuses on nutritious food purchases for the Pantry. Reish graduates with his bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics this May and will continue with his studies in the Accelerated Master’s in Nutrition & Dietetics.

Handy Hacks for Pantry Basics

Let us know which handy hack is your favorite!

Use instant potatoes instead of cream to thicken soups
Swap applesauce or yogurt for eggs in baked items – but swing by the Bear Pantry if you run out of eggs!
Rinse canned vegetables and beans to reduce the sodium level
Use powdered milk as protein powder (8 grams protein in a ¼ cup of powder)
Microwave thinly sliced zucchini or squash to make veggie chips
Use a mason jar ring to make perfectly round eggs on the stovetop
When opening a food can, poke holes in the bottom to remove the vacuum seal for the can to completely empty
Bake, instead of boil, whole eggs in the oven to make hard boiled eggs
Opening new jars – dent the edge of the lid with a butterknife handle to release some air to allow for seamless opening

Past/Upcoming events

MoState Ag students, faculty, staff, and friends helped drive food distribution over the weekend at their annual Darr Difference Day by filling 300 snack packs for the Bear Pantry! Swing by during open hours to grab one!
Teaching Kitchens – another event is coming up March 27^th hosted by dietetics graduate Betsy Whitehurst! Register here.
Greek Week’s annual donation drive for the Bear Pantry is April 13-18^th! Last year, philanthropies raised an incredible $60,000 worth of food and hygiene items that greatly supported our operations. Donated goods will be distributed throughout the following weeks.
If you’re having trouble finding time to visit us, remember the Pantry’s after-hours on Mondays from 5-7pm and Tuesdays from 5-5:30pm.