A Welcoming Resource

For students facing food insecurity or unexpected financial challenges, Mo’s Cupboard offers more than shelves stocked with groceries and essential supplies. It provides a welcoming space where members of the Moravian University community can find support when they need it most.

During the 2025–2026 academic year, 1,400 students, including 642 first-time users, visited Mo’s Cupboard a total of 17,614 times. The pantry provides food, snacks, toiletries, and other necessities to students from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances.

For Dalley Silwamba ’26, a Mo’s Cupboard volunteer, the opportunity to serve others was deeply personal.

“I was motivated to volunteer with Mo’s Cupboard because I wanted to help other students in need,” he says. “As an international student from Zambia, I understand how hard it can be to get food and basic items sometimes. I also wanted to give back to the Moravian community that has supported me.”

Dalley helped organize and restock shelves, check that items were clean and safe, assist students in finding what they needed, and maintain a neat and welcoming environment. He also helped arrange deliveries.

Dalley says the students who visit Mo’s Cupboard represent Moravian’s diverse community. “The students who use the pantry come from different backgrounds,” he explains. “Some are international students, and others are local students who may need extra support.”

Mo’s Cupboard recently found a new home in the expanded Haupert Union Building, creating even greater opportunities to serve the campus community. According to Dalley, the new location has transformed the experience for students.

“The new HUB space is bigger, cleaner, and more organized,” he says. “It is easier for students to walk in and find what they need. The space also feels more welcoming and private, which makes students more comfortable to use it.”

The additional space has also allowed Mo’s Cupboard to expand its capacity. “There is more space to store food, so more items can be offered,” Silwamba says. “It is also easier to organize donations and serve more students. The new space helps reach more people and provide better support.”

Beyond the pantry itself, the Helping Hounds Student Fund provides critical assistance for students experiencing financial hardship. During the 2025–2026 academic year, the fund provided $11,652.54 for needs such as textbooks, gas cards, parking passes, and meals, plus an additional $2,023.93 for food and need-based items.

Alumni and donors can help sustain this important work through financial support, volunteering, and donations of nonperishable food and essential supplies. Mo’s Cupboard is also seeking volunteers to assist with pickups, deliveries, and distribution, as well as connections with companies and suppliers that can provide discounted cleaning products, toiletries, and pantry staples.

Pop-top canned goods, rice and pasta products, Campbell’s products, condiments, and personal care items are especially welcome.

Through the generosity of the Moravian community and the dedication of student volunteers, like Dalley, Mo’s Cupboard continues to ensure that no individual has to face life’s challenges alone.

Do you want to help our students in need? Volunteer with Mo’s Cupboard—complete a survey to share how you want to get involved!