Tiger Pantry provides food resources and education to members of the University of Missouri family and University of Missouri Health Care workers in need while exemplifying the university’s four core values of Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, and Excellence. Tiger Pantry strives to assist, educate and empower those facing food insecurity within the University of Missouri community. Tiger Pantry advocates to change the perception of hunger on campus and to offer resources to students, faculty, and staff so that they may focus on the experiences uniquely available at Mizzou.

Tiger Pantry’s Emergency Food Packs are available at select locations around campus to support students in immediate need of food assistance. Each Food Pack consists of 2-3 microwavable meals and 4-6 types of snacks. If you need an emergency food pack, please visit one of the locations at the link above and ask for a Tiger Pantry food pack. No information is needed to receive an Emergency Food Pack.

The Food Bank Market offers a grocery store-like experience for residents of Central Missouri. The Market uses a checkout system. During check-in, each neighbor will receive a shopping list that outlines how many items they can choose from each shopping category (fresh produce, frozen foods, cold foods, breakfast, grains, dry protein, canned fruit and vegetables and more), based on family size. During checkout, volunteers help bag items and let you know if you’ve missed anything. Please take a form of ID with you when you go!

The Hogan House is a small food pantry open every Sunday from 1-3pm. Food is free, but they request you bring your own box or bags to carry your items. Food pantry is at 313 Hogan Drive, Columbia, MO 65201.

The Boone County Blessing Boxes are small boxes, like Little Free Libraries, with food for community members in need. The most updated list of locations can be found here. A map of the locations can be found here. Please note the availability and variety of food in these boxes varies.

There are a few options for Income Based Housing in Columbia.

Affordable Housing (Columbia Housing Authority): Learn more about Columbia Housing Authority’s Affordable housing program at this link. Applications must be filled out on paper and turned in by mail or in person. 

Yarco Properties: This private property company offers income-based housing to eligible applicants. Lakewood Apartments and Columbia Square Townhome Apartments are the two properties they own in Columbia. You can apply online on their website.

Usually referred to as “Section 8.” Columbia Housing Authority is not currently accepting applications. Check this website for updates.

Rent assistance (availability varies): Please contact the VAC office at 573.874.2273 for eligibility. Assistance ranges from one month to several months depending on available funding. They do not provide utility assistance.

Love Columbia is a local non-profit that serves “anyone in Columbia who is struggling to provide for their basic needs or improve their life and wants help to create a path forward.” They offer housing coaching to look for available housing that meets your housing needs as well as rent assistance and deposit assistance. (Note: for rent assistance services you must be facing eviction.)

CMCA runs a program called LIHEAP that “assists families with energy costs in the summer and winter months.” Applications usually open on November 1 for winter assistance and June 1 for summer assistance. Please see the CMCA website for the most up to date information.

Offers a Utility Assistance Program for disabled persons, elderly, and families with children under 18. They do a monthly lottery that can assist with electricity or water bills.

Offers reduced price clothing, linens, handbags, and shoes. If you are in need of a voucher to receive clothing, you can reach out to Mizzou’s Basic Needs Coordinator, Haley Hamblin, at hh5w2@missouri.edu.  

Clothing Closet provides “LGBTQIA+ folks in need with free clothing and accessories in a safe, gender affirming, and welcoming environment.” The closet is open every Friday from 12-2:30pm and every 2nd Monday from 3:30-5 p.m. 

Provides vouchers to Upscale Resale for eligible clients to get free clothing. The voucher is one time use and allows up to $75 in clothing. VAC takes walk ins Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am –12pm and 1pm-4pm. Scheduled appointments available Tuesday & Thursday. Call 573-874-2273 to make an appointment. 

Medicaid is a government funded program to provide free or low-cost health insurance to low-income individuals and families. Apply for Medicaid using this link.

Provides prescription assistance to eligible clients. Assistance must be requested before picking up the prescription. VAC takes walk ins Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am –12pm and 1pm-4pm. Scheduled appointments available Tuesday & Thursday. Call 573-874-2273 to make an appointment.

The MU Student Health Center has Patient Account Representatives that can assist with understanding your insurance benefits, where you can receive care, how to interpret insurance bills, etc. Email at umhsin@health.missouri.edu or walk into the Student Health Center.

Many organizations in town help with diapers and wipes. See the list below. 

Voluntary Action Center (VAC): Call 573-874-2273 to make an appointment. 

If you need a car seat, VAC can provide one for free! They also give out booster seats for older children. Call 573-874-2273 to check eligibility and make an appointment.

First Chance for Children offers Baby Bags for low-income families with children ages birth to 5. Families can receive diapers, wipes, home health items like baby shampoo or lotion, and more!

WIC (Women, Infants & Children) “provides income-based nutrition services to pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and children up to their 5th birthday.” Services include nutrition education and counseling, vouchers for healthy food, free health screenings, and infant supplies.  

The Disability Center reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and support services to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the educational programs and activities offered by the university. Some accommodations require advance planning, such as housing accommodations, interpreters/captioning, course substitutions, reduced course load and lab assistants. 

The mission of the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center is to complement the academic programs of study and enrich the quality of campus life for Black students at the University of Missouri. Integral to this mission are the following aims: provide support for higher retention and graduation rates of Black students through social and educational programming; offer leadership development opportunities and establish a safe space for students. Additionally, the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center is a willing partner with entities endeavoring to make the University of Missouri and Columbia community a more inclusive and welcoming environment for diverse populations through education, outreach, and collaboration. 

The Learning Center aims to provide instruction that deepens and enriches students’ understanding of the classes in which they enroll. Through peer and professional instruction, they increase students’ satisfaction with their educational and interpersonal experiences at MU. Just as faculty members need colleagues to review their papers or research findings, students need tutors, teachers, and peers to review, analyze, and assist them with papers they write and the academic problems they encounter. The Learning Center’s mission, therefore, is to enhance students’ academic performance, deepen their satisfaction with their academic experiences, and increase the retention and graduation rates of students who participate in our sessions. 

The LGBTQ Resource Center works to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment for Mizzou community members with a focus on queer and transgender students.  Serving as a campus and community resource, we accomplish our mission through the development of healthy communities, strategic partnerships, and leadership and identity development within a culture of celebration and inclusion. 

The Multicultural Center builds community, fosters a sense of belonging and provides educational programs and resources for all students with a focus on students from marginalized identities. Specifically, the center places an intentional focus on serving student’s intersectional and marginalized identities. Through student organizations and educational, cultural and leadership development opportunities, the Multicultural Center works to create empowered student leaders and promote a welcoming and culturally inclusive campus environment. 

The Office of Institutional Equity enforces the university’s non-discrimination policies, educates the community about our policies and practices, connects people to resources that can support them if they experience discrimination or retaliation, and listens to the concerns of the campus community. If you experience, witness or hear about any form of discrimination or retaliation, you can make a report. The Office of Institutional Equity will contact you, discuss your options and rights, and can investigate whether university policies were violated. 

If you are concerned about confidentiality or don’t want an investigation, the Office of Institutional Equity will discuss any concerns that you might have. The Office of Institutional Equity investigates all forms of sex-based violence including sexual misconduct, dating or intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, or invasion of sexual privacy. The office also investigates the use of racial or ethnic slurs to harass or intimidate. This type of conduct may violate the non-discrimination policy and/or the Student Standard of Conduct or Human Resources policies. 

The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) Center aims to promote social change on campus and in the community by serving students, faculty and staff through educational, prevention, advocacy and response efforts. The RSVP Center demonstrates a commitment to preventing and ultimately eliminating instances of stalking and sexual harassment as well as dating, intimate partner and sexual violence within the campus community. The RSVP Center provides free and confidential support and advocacy services, a broad range of educational programs, resources and outreach events to promote academic success, personal wellness and overall awareness. 

Some concerns rise above the level of response that the Care Team provides. If you witness or know of students you think are especially concerning, worrisome or threatening, we strongly encourage you to use this online referral tool, to notify the Student At Risk Committee. The student of concern is more likely to receive assistance before the situation worsens if you express concern.

Student Financial Aid promotes excellent customer service while educating students, families, campus and the community about financial aid resources in order to promote access in higher education. They strive to administer aid programs in an accurate and equitable manner while complying with federal, state, private and institutional rules and regulations. 

Student Health & Well-Being. The University of Missouri is committed to supporting student health and well-being in a network of care that includes the Counseling Center, Student Health Center, Wellness Resource Center and community providers. Regardless of what challenges students are facing, the most important thing is for them to reach out to someone. University faculty and staff work together to ensure students find the most appropriate care. 

The Veteran’s Center is here to meet the needs and address the concerns of veterans at Mizzou. It’s a designated place on campus where you can find camaraderie and friendship along with resources and support. Our office is staffed by two full-time MU employees and six VA work-study students who have worn — or are still wearing — the uniform. 

The MU Voz Latina faculty, staff and student association is a vibrant organization dedicated to empower the Latino community of the University of Missouri and Columbia to lead and to achieve academic, professional, and personal success. It is Voz Latina’s mission be a vibrant organization dedicated to empower the Latino community of the University of Missouri and Columbia to lead and to achieve academic, professional, and personal success. 

The MU Women’s Center welcomes students, staff, faculty, and members of our local community. The Center provides opportunities for learning, service, and support. The Women’s Center is open to everyone.