Meeting students where they are: Big Blue Pantry expands access with new food lockers
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 27, 2025) — In the quiet basement of William T. Young Library, a new kind of resource now waits behind coded doors. Small blue lockers that hold big promise for University of Kentucky students in need.
The lockers, recently installed by the Big Blue Pantry, a unit housed in the Office for Student Success, represent more than a convenient way to grab groceries. They’re part of a growing network of support that underscores what it means to be a Wildcat: a community where no one faces challenges alone.
Since opening its doors in 2014, the Big Blue Pantry has served as a beacon for students experiencing food insecurity, offering everything from canned goods and fresh produce to hygiene essentials. Now, with the addition of these food lockers, students have another option when emergencies may arise after hours.
Here’s how it works: a student can reserve a locker through the Big Blue Pantry’s website. Once registered, they receive a code and locker number, which unlocks a bag filled with shelf-stable meals and hygiene products — enough to carry them through the day. At the same time, UK Basic Needs and Financial Wellness staff are notified and ready to follow up, ensuring students are guided toward additional resources if needed.
“We can’t be everywhere or on call 24 hours a day,” said Andrew Perkins, program coordinator for the Big Blue Pantry. “But these lockers allow us to put something tangible in a student’s hands, right when they need it. Before anything else, we have to start with the basics — food, hygiene, dignity.”
More than food: Building community
The idea for the lockers was sparked at the Universities Fighting World Hunger conference in 2024, where Perkins saw similar models in action. UK chose to tailor the approach to its campus: while the Big Blue Pantry primarily operates on a client-choice model that lets students shop for the items they need, the lockers serve as a quick-response safety net for emergencies.
So far, only one locker has been used, and to Perkins, that’s a good sign.
“Low numbers mean fewer students are in urgent crisis,” he said. “But when someone does need it, we can act immediately and follow up with care.”
The Big Blue Pantry is not just about filling shelves or bags. It’s about filling gaps in access. Food insecurity can be an invisible burden, but UK’s Student Success team is working to remove the stigma and remind students that seeking help is an act of strength.
“We may all have a different ‘why’ as we learn, serve, teach, heal and discover,” Perkins said. “But our efforts ladder up to a common mission — building a healthier and stronger Commonwealth. That starts with making sure students’ basic needs are met so they can thrive in every other part of their lives.”
It’s this philosophy that has led to new initiatives like the “Y’all Good?” campaign, aimed at encouraging honest conversations about wellness and reminding students that they’re not alone. Continued investments in mental health resources, well-being initiatives and now, food access, are part of UK’s commitment to be a community of belonging for everyone.
Investing in student success
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of every decision. The Office for Student Success works to create an environment where students can pursue their goals with the right support at every stage of their journey.
That support means looking at the whole student experience, from academic achievement to personal well-being. By investing in initiatives such as the Big Blue Pantry, new food lockers and expanded mental health resources, UK is working to ensure that basic needs and wellness are never barriers to success.
Continued investments in these areas strengthen the university’s mission to be a community of belonging for everyone. And these efforts are not static — they continue to evolve as new needs emerge, ensuring students have both immediate support and long-term opportunities to grow.
Looking ahead
The Big Blue Pantry, located in Frazee Hall, continues to serve hundreds of students each semester. With hours offered throughout the week and shelves stocked twice weekly, students can find everything from pasta and cereal to shampoo and toothpaste. Soon, thanks to a new partnership with The Food Connection, students will also have opportunities to join basic cooking classes, helping them turn pantry staples into nourishing meals.
As a new semester begins, the lockers are just one more example of how UK is adapting to meet students where they are. The start of the academic year is always a season of possibility — for learning, discovery and building the kind of community where every student knows they belong.
For Perkins and the Student Success team, that commitment is clear: no student should have to choose between pursuing their education and meeting their most basic needs.
“At the start of a new academic year, our goal is clear: to set our students up for success,” Perkins said. “The lockers are a small but powerful reminder that this community will support them — today, tomorrow and in every season of their journey at UK.”
To read more about the Big Blue Pantry and the new food lockers visit studentsuccess.uky.edu/financial-wellness/services/big-blue-pantry.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. Explore Student Success resources.