Purple Pantry


Who’s eligible?
Free to all enrolled ECU students
Where is it?
Located in the Main Campus Student Center & Health Sciences Campus Student Center
When is Purple Pantry open?
See below for operating hours

The mission of the ECU Williams-Ross Purple Pantry is to decrease food insecurity among the students of East Carolina University and increase access to other personal care items. Since opening in the late spring of 2018, students have been able to collect their most needed food and hygiene items. Members of the ECU community dedicate their time, talent and treasures to create a sustainable resource on campus to combat food insecurity.

ECU’s Williams-Ross Purple Pantry is housed in the Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement and is a collaborative effort between many entities of ECU’s Division of Student Affairs. While we have many organizations and departments we work with, some of our closest partners are the Department of Technology Systems (College of Engineering and Technology) and the Dean of Students Office. With many things taking place at ECU, our Greenville-Pitt County Partnerships are also paramount to ending food insecurity on our campus and in our community. Much of what we do could not be accomplished without the likes of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC and the Churches Outreach Network here in Greenville.

More history, facts, and information on ECU’s Williams-Ross Purple Pantry can be found here.



Fall 2024: Operations and Locations

The Williams-Ross Purple Pantry will be open for Fall 2024, starting Monday August 26th.
Hours of operation can be found below.

Main Campus

Main Campus Student Center
  • Location: CLCE Suite, Suite 208 Main Campus Student Center
  • NEW! Hours of Operation:
    • Monday and Wednesday: 10AM-12PM
    • Tuesday and Thursday: 1PM-5PM
    • Friday: Closed
  • NEW! Shoppers will be able to visit once a week. Shoppers will be encouraged to bring their ECU 1-Card to present to a Williams-Ross Purple Pantry volunteer and/or staff member.
    Mini Pantry Locations
    • Located between Mamie Jenkins and Mendenhall on Main Campus
    • Located outside of Laupus Library on Health Sciences Campus

    Health Sciences Campus

    Health Sciences Campus (HSC) Student Center Purple Pantry
    • Location: Room 122A HSC Student Center (Enter through hallway to the right of HSC Recreation Center)
    • Hours of Operation: Thursdays from 2PM-4PM
    • To gain access and/or directions to the Pantry at other times, please visit the HSC Student Center Welcome Desk
      *Note: All hours of operation are subject to change.

      Swipe Out Hunger

      Students experiencing food insecurity and/or a student emergency, will now get access to healthy and well-balanced meals at West End and Todd Dining Halls. Swipe Out Hunger is for students who live off campus (undergraduate, graduate, dental and medical). Swipe Out Hunger offers short-term help until students obtain sustainable funding or other resources.

      Swipe Out Hunger applications are now open for the 2024-2025 school year, you can find the link here.


      Volunteer with Purple Pantry

      Interested in volunteering with Purple Pantry?  Please email PurplePantry@ecu.edu if you have any questions.


      Donate Items to Purple Pantry

      Individuals and organizations can donate items to Purple Pantry, Monday-Friday from 1:00-5:00 p.m. in the Main Campus Student Center, Room 208. If planning a donation drive, please email PurplePantry@ecu.edu to confirm our most needed items, dates of drive, and drop off time/date. You may also donate via our Amazon Wishlist with the current needs of Purple Pantry.

      Most needed items in our Pantry spaces:

      • Breakfast items (individual cups of cereal, breakfast bars, oatmeal cups, etc.)
      • Healthy Snacks (popcorn, granola bars, crackers)
      • Fruit cups/Canned Fruit
      • Rice
      • Canned meat (tuna, chicken)
      • Taco meal kits
      • Pasta
      • Seasonings
      • Hygiene items
      • Household items (trash bags, paper plates, plastic utensils)
      • Gluten free options
      • Vegan options
      • Vegetarian options

       


      Give to Purple Pantry

      Hunger Initiatives Support Fund

      To establish hunger-related opportunities for ECU's Purple Pantry, which addresses food insecurities on campus

      Donate

      For more information about donations or collaborations, please contact us at:

      purplepantry@ecu.edu or call 252-328-2735


      Local Pantries

      LOCAL PANTRIESPHONE NUMBERADDRESS
      Bread of Life/Grifton-Mobile Food Pantry(252) 524-4041406 Cannon Blvd. Grifton
      Churches Outreach Network(252) 717-9600713 Albemarle Avenue. Greenville
      Emmanuel Community FWB Center(252) 756-00943106 Speight Seed Farm Road
      Food Bank of Central & Eastern NC(252)752-4996497 W 9th St. Greenville
      Hope of Glory Ministries(252) 215-9042103 E. Arlington Blvd. Greenville
      Koinonia Christian Center Church-Mobile Food Pantry(252) 752-18981405 SW Greenville Blvd. Greenville
      Lifetime of Joy Baby Pantry & Motherhood Support Hollywood Church(252) 756-13505103 NC HWY 43 S. Greenville
      Love Ministries Church (LMC)(252) 412-30881610 Farmville Blvd. Greenville
      Memorial Baptist Benevolence Program(252) 756-53141510 SE Greenville Blvd. Greenville
      Mt. Zion Holy Church(252) 746-74043323 Ayden Golf Club Road
      Pentecostal Temple Holy Church of Deliverance(252) 752-09062753 W. 5th Street. Greenville
      Philippi Church of Christ(252) 752-72053760 Philippi Dr. Greenville
      South Greenville Church of Christ(252) 754-2222669 S Memorial Dr. Greenville
      St Paul's Episcopal Church(252) 752-3482401 East Fourth Street. Greenville
      St. James United Methodist Church Food Pantry(252) 714-90022000 East 6th Street. Greenville
      St. Peter's Catholic Church(252) 757-32592700 E. 4th Street. Greenville
      The Anointed Ones Church(252) 746-27224271 N. Edge Rd. Ayden

      ECU and Local Resources

      ECU AND LOCAL RESOURCESPHONE NUMBERADDRESS/EMAILTYPE OF RESOURCE
      Academic Advising and Support Center(252) 328-6001advising@ecu.eduAcademic Advising
      AmexCan(252) 258-9967juvenciorp@amexcannc.orgSocial Well-being
      Campus Recreation & Wellness(252) 328-6911campusrec@ecu.eduPhysical Fitness Well-being
      Career Services(252)328-6050career@ecu.eduCareer & Employment Opportunities
      Cashier's Office(252) 737-6886cashier@ecu.edu
      Center for Counseling & Student Development(252) 328-6661Mental Health
      Daycare Assistance(252) 902-11101717 W. Fifth St. Greenville
      Dean of Students(252) 328-9297dos@ecu.eduCrisis/Family Emergency/Grievances
      Disability Support Services(252) 737-1016dssdept@ecu.eduDisability
      ECU Cares(252) 737-5555Crisis
      Financial Aid Office(252) 328-6610faques@ecu.edu
      Ledonia Wright Cultural Center(252) 328-6495lwcc@ecu.eduDiversity Support
      Dr. Jesse R. Peel LGBTQ Center(252) 737-2514lgbt@ecu.eduDiversity Support
      Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities(252) 328-6824osrr@ecu.eduCode of Conduct
      Pitt County Department of Social Services(252) 902-11101717 W. Fifth St. Greenville
      SNAP Benefits Coordinator, Thomas Knight(255) 902-1238203 Government Cir. Greenville
      Student Health Services(252) 328-6841gotquestions@ecu.eduPhysical Health
      Student Treasure Chesttreasurechest@ecu.edu
      WIC(252) 902-11101717 W. Fifth St. Greenville

      Follow us on Social Media!

      Instagram and Facebook: @ecupantry