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Emergency Food Drive for Retriever Essentials

Retriever Essentials Needs Help Restocking Shelves!

With the onset of August, Retriever Essentials has seen a tremendous increase in demand which has left the supplies in our pantry and storage dangerously low.  We are in desperate need of restocking our shelves so we can continue to serve our students in need. 

So how can you help? 

Please see the below list of our most needed items at this time. Please consider making a donation, particularly items in Red and Orange. Please email us at retrieveressentials@umbc.edu so our team can coordinate a designated time for you to drop off donations. 

You can also support us by making a financial contribution to allow us to supplement our supply with purchased items from our local stores. Details can be found below. 

Please make checks payable to the UMBC Foundation and note “Retriever Essentials” in the memo line.  Mail checks to UMBC Foundation, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250.

Alternatively, you may make a secure credit card donation through the university’s giving site: http://support.umbc.edu. Retriever Essentials can be found under Campus Life and Student Engagement designation.  


Red Zone: We are out of these items now
  • all toiletries (oral care items, shower items, menstrual products)
  • peanut butter
  • pasta
  • ramen
  • Halal foods

Orange Zone: We will need more of these items soon
  • Shelf-stable milk
  • Oatmeal
  • Cereal
  • Vegetarian soups
  • Jelly/jam/preserves
  • Rice (especially basmati rice)
  • Tomato paste
  • Mac and cheese
  • Snacks
  • Condoms

Green Zone: We have enough for now but will still accept these donations 
  • Canned or instant potatoes
  • Cream of mushroom soup
  • Beef stew or beef and veggie soup
  • Canned mixed fruit or fruit cocktail
  • Canned peaches
  • Canned pineapple

We do not accept
  • Heavily dented, damaged, or open packaging
  • Expired food
  • We currently cannot accept items that are not on the above list

Thank you in advance for your support of the Retriever Essentials program. 

Posted: August 31, 2022, 4:30 PM