Helping Students Get the Food and Essentials They Need

Alabama A&M University’s Bulldog Market, in partnership with WJAB, will host a Food Drive on Friday, November 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the University's main gate on Chase Road. The event aims to support students facing food insecurity and provide essential items to those in need.

Established in 2021 to address the growing need for student food assistance, the Bulldog Market is coordinated by the University’s Service and Learning Department and supported through the AmeriCorps VISTA federal grant program. The Market offers students three free items per visit, including groceries, personal care products, school supplies, and clothing.

The Market now serves more than 200 students daily, providing a critical lifeline for those who might otherwise go without. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly half of undergraduates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities have experienced food insecurity – nearly twice the national average – and 82% rely on federal financial aid. At AAMU, the Bulldog Market helps bridge that gap.

Items needed for the Food Drive include:

• Nonperishable food items
• Personal hygiene products
• Toiletries
• Bottled water

"Hosting the Food Drive at the main campus entrance makes it easy for the local community to swing by and drop off donations," said Monica Clarke, coordinator of the Bulldog Market. "We rely on community support to keep our shelves stocked, and events like this ensure that students who depend on the Market have access to the essential items they need every day."

Donations can also be dropped off at the McCaleb and McIntosh Building, Room 103, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Appointments are preferred, especially on Fridays, but walk-ins are welcome.

For more information email monica.clarke@aamu.edu or call 256-372-4583. Monetary donations can also be made online here.