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Bears Can-Do Food Drive – Fall 2026

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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

Take Action – September is Hunger Action Month

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September is here—which means pumpkin spice lattes are officially back at Starbucks, but so is Hunger Action Month! 

Hunger Action Month, now in its 18th year, is a national campaign created by Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief network. Its mission is simple yet powerful: to elevate voices, raise awareness, and drive change to end hunger in America. 

Right here in Springfield, food insecurity affects nearly 17% of our community, according to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap study. Food insecurity happens when individuals don’t have the resources to access enough nutritious food—and hunger is the direct and devastating result. 

Thankfully, several local programs are making a difference both on campus and throughout Springfield: 

  • Ozarks Food Harvest – Springfield’s largest food bank and the Bear Pantry’s main supplier.  
  • Crosslines – The area’s largest food pantry, serving nearly 70,000 people each year. 
  • Victory Mission – A faith-based organization providing emergency relief, long-term services, and more than 120 meals a day. 
  • Salvation Army – Offers emergency relief and daily meals through the Front Line Feeding Program at Harbor House. 
  • Well of Life – Located near campus, this pantry distributes food to the community twice a week. 

How YOU Can Take Action This Month 

Hunger Action Month is the perfect time to get involved. Here are a few simple but meaningful ways: 

  • Advocate for change. Use your voice to shine a light on food insecurity. 
  • Volunteer. Your time and service can make a lasting impact. 
  • Host a donation drive. Choose a local organization to support and rally your community to contribute. 

Upcoming Events 

Stay tuned—don’t miss these important opportunities to take action and see what’s coming up on campus! 

  • Family Weekend: September 19th-21st  
    • Missouri State is hosting a food drive to support the Bear Pantry. To contribute, bring items to any of the several donation bins across campus. Map is shown below. 

  • Bear Pantry Food Drive in Hammons Student Center: October 3rd 
    • This food drive, hosted by former softball coach and current academic advisor Beth Perine, is accepting donations as fans gather at the Hammon’s Student Center and the Betty & Bobby Allison South Stadium to watch MSU volleyball, swim, and soccer events. 
  • “Trick-or-Soup” Halloween Food Drive: October 31st  
    • Missouri State’s Mu Phi Epsilon and Student Dietetic Association are teaming up this Halloween for a food drive with a twist—trick-or-treating for canned goods instead of candy. Mu Phi Epsilon has supported the Bear Pantry with this tradition since 2008, and this marks SDA’s second year joining the effort. 

Half Way Through!

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Hey Bears – Angela here!

You’ve almost made it to midterms! Congrats!

Listed below are Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities within our area.

If you aren’t already signed up, Give Pulse and the Point App

are two great resources for finding local volunteer events.

If you have any questions, please email us –>  cce@missouristate.edu

Eden Village

Every THIRD Saturday of each month is a general work day at Eden Village. The more help the better! The time is from 9:00 to noon and we will even feed you pizza for lunch if you choose to stay! This work is mostly outdoors such as landscaping, gardening, painting, cleaning etc.

Location is at Eden Village 2 at 3155 W Brower. Hope to see you there!
Available Dates to Sign-up:
11/20/21
01/15/22
02/19/22
03/19/22

OATS, Inc. Fund-A-Bus Shoe Drive

OATS, Inc. Launches Fund-A-Bus Shoe Drive (Columbia, MO, October 30, 2017) – OATS, Inc., a Missouri-based non-profit company, is conducting a Fund-A-Bus shoe drive, which will run through the end of this year to raise money for a new bus. OATS will earn money based on the total weight of shoes collected, and hopes to collect more than 2,500 pair of shoes. OATS has partnered with Funds2Orgs, who will issue a check for the collected shoes. The money raised will go toward the 20% local match to purchase a new bus. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes at any OATS’ regional office or by giving to any OATS’ driver. Donated shoes are redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise partners. They work with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. “We are excited about the shoe drive,” said Susan Streit, Volunteer Coordinator. “We raise money to help with the purchase of a new vehicle, plus we have the chance to help families in developing countries who need economic opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone.” By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to OATS, the shoes will be given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world. OATS, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation providing transportation for the rural general public of all ages, to those with disabilities and senior citizens in 87 Missouri counties. Our services range from taking toddlers to pre-school, getting people to work each day, taking people to life-saving appointments, and shopping so they can continue to live independently in their own communities. OATS has grown to be one of the largest and most unique systems of its kind in the country. More information can be found at www.oatstransit.org. or email Susan at: sstreit@oatstransit.org. Reach out if you can help collect shoes.

Newspaper Reader

Audio-Reader is seeking volunteer readers for a daily (M-F) live broadcast of Springfield-area newspapers. Time commitment is once per week, 2.5 hours from 1:30-4pm. The broadcast will originate from the Missouri Council of the Blind Thrift Store, 2713 N Kansas Expy in Springfield. Auditions will be held there January 23-24, 2018. For more info or to schedule an audition, call Jennifer at 785-864-4604 or email jnigro@ku.edu.
Positions
20 Remaining
Age Limit
18 and up
Requirement Details
Volunteers must pass an audition consisting of a 100 word pronunciation test and a series of reading samples. Auditions will be held January 23-24. Contact Jennifer at 785-864-4604 or jnigro@ku.edu to schedule.
Road To Recovery- American Cancer Society

Road To Recovery is an American Cancer Society program designed to help improve the quality of life and reduce barriers to care for cancer patients undergoing active treatment by transporting them to and from cancer-related treatment appointments.

The Road To Recovery Volunteer driver can help provide people with transportation to and from their cancer-related treatment appointments. Drivers donate their time and the use of their personal vehicles to help ensure that people with cancer get the treatments they need. Volunteer drivers are also there to show support and provide information and resource referrals coordinated through the American Cancer Society.

Responsibilities include:

·         Follows program guidelines and maintains required volunteer eligibility requirements.

·         Provides ride(s) as agreed upon.

·         Verification of completed COVID-19 vaccination status

·         Completes all necessary transportation documentation information.

·         Reports all changes with contact information, availability, insurance coverage and driving eligibility to the Society in a timely manner.

·         Reports traffic accidents and violations to the Society within 24 hours of occurrence.

·         Abides by the Society’s privacy and confidentiality policies.

·         Internet access.

Positions
10 Remaining
Requirement Details

Volunteer Driver Qualifications:

·      Drivers must be between 18 and 84

·         Good driving record

·         Current, valid driver’s license

·         Access to safe reliable vehicle

·         Proof of adequate automobile insurance

·         Complete American Cancer Society training course and background check

·         Availability Monday through Saturday during the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

·         If cancer survivor, must be one year post-treatment.

 

We are looking forward to a great second half of the semester!
Enjoy the break and Happy Volunteering!

Spotlight – Beta Alpha Psi

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Beta Alpha Psi (BAP) is an honorary accounting, finance, and IT professional organization. BAP hosted a food drive and came to the pantry to sort and organize the items they collected.  BAP collected over 100 pounds in donations for the Bear Pantry! Thank you to all who participated! 

 

If your organization is interested in serving at the Bear Pantry, please contact us at BearPantry@missouristate.edu.

Give Pulse Provides Students with Service Opportunities

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The beginning of the semester is a wonderful time to start looking for and signing up for volunteer opportunities! Whether you are looking for service hours for a club, scholarship, or just for fun, Give Pulse is a great place to start.  

Many organizations in the Springfield community use Give Pulse to post their service opportunities. After you sign up on Give Pulse, you can enter your location to see what events are near you. This can be very helpful if you are hoping to stay near campus! Before selecting a date and time, you can read about the organization and what tasks you may be doing. In addition, with each event, you will see how many slots the organization is trying to fill. Lastly, if you have questions prior to the service opportunity, you can contact the person who created the event.  

To sign up and see service opportunities on Give Pulse, click here!  

Service opportunities on Give Pulse.