Mav Market
Location and Hours of Operation
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday break, the Mav Market will be closed on all campuses on Wednesday, November 26th - Friday, November 28th.
Monday 9am - 11:30am & 3pm - 5pm
Tuesday 1pm - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 3pm
Friday 11am - 3pm
Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 3pm - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 1pm
Thursday 9am - 11am
Friday 2pm - 5pm
Monday 10am - 2pm
Tuesday 10am - 2pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 10am - 12pm
Welcome to the Mav Market: Mercy鈥檚 Food & Resource Pantry
The Mav Market is a judgment-free, inclusive, and confidential resource for B次元 students, staff, and faculty experiencing food insecurity, providing access to nutritious food and personal care items at no cost. By easing the burden of securing basic needs, the Mav Market empowers students to stay focused on their studies and reach their full potential as Mavericks. Students should go to class hungry for knowledge, not for food. If you can鈥檛 afford balanced meals or sacrifice food to pay bills, know that you don鈥檛 have to choose.
What is Food Insecurity?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a 鈥渉ousehold-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food"
Food insecurity is the inability to access enough food for you to live an active, healthy, and productive life. Not only does it mean not having access to sufficient food overall, it can also mean:
- not having access to sufficient healthy food options
- not having access to culturally relevant food
- having only inconsistent or otherwise difficult to access food
Effects of food insecurity
Food insecurity, or the lack of access to enough nutritious food, can have serious consequences on people's health and well-being.
Physical health - People who experience food insecurity are more likely to experience malnutrition and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Mental health - Food insecurity can also hurt people's mental health and result in depression, anxiety, and stress
Well-being - Not meeting basic needs like food and shelter can lead to social isolation, stigma, and shame
School and work - Without enough food, people who experience food insecurity may have difficulty concentrating, have low energy, or miss school and work due to illness
Information courtesy of Feeding America
College students and food insecurity
3 in 5 college students experience basic needs insecurity related to food
Source: The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, 2025
Below are some questions you can ask yourself to help better understand if you are experiencing food insecurity.
In the past 12 months:
- I worried whether my food would run out before I got money to buy more.
- The food that I bought just didn't last, and I didn't have money to get more.
- I couldn't afford to eat balanced meals.
- I cut the size of my meals or skipped meals because there wasn't enough money for food.
- I ate less than I felt I should because there wasn鈥檛 enough money for food.
- I was hungry but didn鈥檛 eat, because there wasn鈥檛 enough money for food.
Questions used by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assess food insecurity.
Mav Market Resource Guide
Check out these resources to learn more about federal benefits, food pantries near you, healthy eating, and more!
Support the Mav Market
Thank you to our partners for their continued generosity and support of our mission with the Mav Market:
- Feeding Westchester
- Food Bank for New York City
- The Rivertowns Rotary Club
- Aldersgate United Methodist Church
- Stop and Shop
- Swipe Out Hunger
- Wegmans
FAQs on the Mav Market
Q: What is the Mav Market?
A: The Mav Market is B次元's food and resource pantry, open to all students, staff, and faculty. We provide food, snacks, and toiletries, as well as additional resources such as federal benefit eligibility pre-screeners, SNAP assistance, and nutrition education. Our services are completely free, confidential, and open to all!
Q: How does the Mav Market work?
A: After registering on PantrySoft, individuals may visit the Mav Market on any campus during weekly open hours. Upon arrival, our staff members will check you in (or sign you up if you are not already a member!) and tell you your weekly point allocation based on your family size. Each item within the Market has a point value, and you are free to shop for whatever items you need until you have reached your weekly point number. We operate on a trust system, so we do not count points or check bags. We recommend everyone brings their own reusable bag!
Q: Where is the Mav Market located?
A: Find us in Westchester in Main Hall Room 115, the Bronx in Room 1250, and Manhattan in Room 329!
Q: What if I cannot visit a pantry during open hours, but I am in need?
A: If you are in need of food assistance outside of open hours, please email us at mavmarket@mercy.edu.
Q: How many times can I visit the Mav Market each month?
A: You may visit the Mav Market once per week at any campus pantry location. Please note that the Mav Market is closed during B次元 recognized holidays and breaks.
Q: When can I receive refrigerated perishable/frozen items?
A: If you would like to receive cold or frozen items, you must visit us during open hours. Please note that all items are quantity dependent, and bringing a reusable grocery bag is highly recommended.
Q: Do I need to pay for items from the Mav Market?
A: No! The Mav Market is completely free and open to all students, faculty, and staff.
Q: I'm not experiencing food insecurity or hunger; can I still pick up some snacks from the Mav Market?
A: Of course! If you are hungry throughout the day, we are here to help. A granola bar could be the difference between a B and an A, and we want to make sure you have all the tools you need to succeed.
Q: What if I am in need of a meal while on campus?
A: Any enrolled student may submit a to request a voucher that will provide a free breakfast, lunch, or dinner meal swipe in the dining facilities on the Westchester or Manhattan campuses.
Q: I'm graduating from Mercy, but I still need help. Can I come to the Mav Market?
A: If you are in need of assistance after graduating, please let us know so we can help you find the appropriate resources, including food pantries in your area, how to apply for SNAP and WIC, and any other needs you may have. Check out our Resources Guide for helpful links, or send us an email at mavmarket@mercy.edu.
Q: Can I volunteer with the Mav Market?
A: No, at this time we are not able to host volunteers. If you are looking to fulfill community service hours or you are an organization looking to partner with us, please reach out to our Basic Needs Manager, Matthew Pangburn, directly at mavmarket@mercy.edu.
Q: Can I design a project for the Mav Market for academic credit?
A: Absolutely, the Mav Market encourages students to participate in a way that is meaningful for them. We will gladly work with you and your professor to design a project that enriches your perspective and helps the Mav Market.
Q. Can I host a food drive to benefit the Mav Market?
A. Yes! We love to work with on and off-campus organizations looking to raise items/funds to benefit the Mav Market. Please contact mavmarket@mercy.edu before your drive to coordinate with our Basic Needs Manager.
How to Donate
Join us to fight food insecurity on campus and make a gift to the .
Donate online using our ! Items will be shipped directly to the Mav Market in Dobbs Ferry.
You can also donate items in-person at any of our locations. Please email us at mavmarket@mercy.edu to arrange a drop-off time!
We are in need of:
- Individually-wrapped snacks
- Toiletries
- Microwaveable single meals, shelf stable
- Spices: salt, pepper, garlic, onion, paprika
- Energy/protein bars
- Ramen noodles
- Mac n' cheese
Faculty + Staff Information
Thank you for you interest in supporting Mercy students to meet their basic needs. Here are some ways that you can help students!
- Familiarize yourself with existing campus resources so you can share the information with your students and other colleagues.
Include a statement in your syllabus on basic needs, for example: 鈥淎ny student who has difficulty affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day, or who lacks a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect their performance in the course, is urged to contact the Basic Needs Manager (mavmarket@mercy.edu) for support. You may also notify me, if you feel comfortable doing so, and I will do my best to help you identify and arrange other resources. We can also discuss other ways I can support you鈥欌
If you know a student who is facing challenges with access to their basic needs, you can refer a student through the CARE (Concern, Assessment, Response, and Evaluation) Team. The CARE Team is a, collaborative, interdisciplinary intervention resource to assist students in need. If this is an emergency that involves an imminent risk of harm to self or others, please contact campus Safety and Security at 914-674-9999 or by dialing 911.
To submit a report for review, please click here:
- Consider how you assign textbooks and class materials! Oftentimes a big barrier for students is the cost of course books and materials, consider letting students use older versions of textbooks, or assign open access readings.
- Donate! The Mav Market accepts monetary and physical donations. Also consider donating professional or interview clothing to the CPD鈥檚 clothing closet for students who need support.
Basic Needs 101 For Faculty and Staff
Basic Needs are the essential resources that impact one鈥檚 health, sense of belonging, persistence, and overall well-being. They include:
鉂 Food security
鉂 Safe and stable housing
鉂 Financial sustainability
鉂 Transportation
鉂 Quality healthcare
鉂 Mental health & wellness
Issues of food and housing insecurity and/or homelessness often carries a significant amount of stigma. If someone reveals that they are dealing with these challenges, there are several ways you can provide support. You can point out Mercy's on-campus food and resource pantry, the Mav Market, you can directly refer them to the Basic Needs Manager, or complete a on the student's behalf.
- Express gratitude for their openness.
"I'm grateful that you shared what you're going through." "I appreciate you trusting me enough to disclose your struggle."
- Acknowledge the difficulty they are facing.
"I can only imagine how challenging it must be to focus on your studies when you don't know where your next meal is coming from." "Dealing with unstable housing can be extremely stressful."
- Discuss available support options.
"Are you aware that we have a food pantry located on each campus? It's open to all students and can provide assistance regardless of your circumstances." "The Basic Needs Manager might be able to help through on-campus programs and services or connections with off-campus resources"
- Follow up to check if they accessed the suggested resources or require further assistance.
"Did you manage to get in touch with the Mav Market?" "Has there been any improvement in your situation?"
There are several indicators that may suggest a student is experiencing food and housing insecurity or homelessness. Sometimes, the severity of the situation may not be immediately apparent because students might feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. Faculty and staff who are aware of these warning signs and the available support can better identify and refer students. The following list is not exhaustive, and not all students exhibiting these symptoms are necessarily facing housing or food insecurity; these symptoms can arise from other issues. However, they often point to problems with basic necessities.
- Inconsistent or reduced attendance in class.
- Disengagement within the classroom.
- Sleeping in campus libraries.
- Consistently failing to complete assignments.
- Avoidance of personal details.
- Sleep deprivation or falling asleep during class.
- Difficulty concentrating or focusing.
- Expressing inability to complete coursework due to lack of textbooks.
- Increased distress.
- Feelings of hopelessness.
- Disrupted eating patterns.
- Poor health and diet.
- Neglect of personal hygiene.
- Wearing unwashed clothes repeatedly.
- Students disclosing that they have been sleeping in their car, couch surfing, lack accommodations during breaks, struggling to afford food or bills, etc.
Contact Us
Matthew Pangburn, M.S.
Basic Needs Manager
mavmarket@mercy.edu
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