The Charger Blog

Career Closet/Campus Pantry Provides Important Resources for Students

The UniversityӰԭs Career Closet/Campus Pantry includes professional clothing, nonperishable food, and health and wellness items that are available at no cost to students who need them, and staff members, a supermarket chain, and the local community are endeavoring to make sure it helps as many students as possible.

January 10, 2020

By Renee Chmiel, Office of Marketing and Communications


Image of Katie George and Bella Miceli
Katie George (left) and Bella Miceli at the Career Closet/Campus PantryӰԭs new permanent location.

Ariana Lasher Ӱԭ20 was all smiles as she saw the impact the UniversityӰԭs Career Closet/Campus Pantry was already making on her fellow students at its recent grand opening. An intern in the UniversityӰԭs Career Development Center, Lasher helped celebrate the unveiling of the Career Closet/Campus PantryӰԭs new permanent location in Ruden Street Building 19, Room 005.

"ItӰԭs great that we were able to provide an outlet on campus rather than arranging transportation to off-campus resources," said Lasher. "Some students donӰԭt have cars, and this is convenient. They can walk here."

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Stop & Shop reusable shopping bags and frozen meals were available to students at the Career Closet/Campus PantryӰԭs grand opening.

Students browsed donated professional clothing such as shirts, blazers, pants, and skirts available to them at no cost that they can wear to a job or internship interview.

"This is a great opportunity for students because it isnӰԭt always easy to get business clothing," said a student who selected some new clothes at the grand opening. "IӰԭm grateful that students like me can come here to get what they need without feeling bad."

"It warms my heart to see this help students. Seeing their reaction and the impact it has already made on them is incredible."Bella Miceli

Created through a collaboration between the UniversityӰԭs Career Development Center, ChargerREC, and , the Career Closet/Campus Pantry also provides students with non-perishable food, as well as health and wellness items, at no cost.

"ItӰԭs important because we are helping set students up for success so they can go to class and focus without worrying," said Katie George, operations and events manager for the UniversityӰԭs Career Development Center. "I hope this will continue to make an impact for a long time."

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The UniversityӰԭs Career Closet/Campus Pantry includes professional clothing, nonperishable food, and health and wellness items that are available at no cost to students who need them.

"Stop & Shop is proud to help support the University of New HavenӰԭs Career Closet/Campus Pantry," said Jennifer Brogan, director of community relations for Stop & Shop. "We applaud the UniversityӰԭs efforts to provide a place where students can access the essential items they need to enable them to focus on advancing their education and working toward their career goals."

The conversation around financial insecurity is a national issue, George says, and the University wants to ensure that students have access to all the resources they need to succeed. The Career Closet/Campus Pantry is accepting clothing donations such as blazers, skirts, ties, and button-down shirts. It is also in need of non-perishable food donations, as well as health and wellness items such as soap, toothbrushes, and toilet paper.

"It warms my heart to see this help students," said Bella Miceli, assistant director of fitness and wellness at ChargerREC. "Seeing their reaction and the impact it has already made on them is incredible."

The University has established the Students First Fund to support initiatives such as the Career Closet and Campus Pantry. Those who are interested in making monetary donations to this fund can , and select ӰԭStudents First FundӰԭ from the drop down menu. Those interesting in donating business attire, nonperishable food, or health and wellness items can email closetpantry@newhaven.edu.