Welcome to Wolverine Essentials!
Wolverine Essentials is a one-stop location for currently enrolled University of Michigan-Flint students to access basic needs services and resources, linking them to supplemental food, housing, gently used clothing, toiletries and other basic needs resources.
Don’t let a setback keep you from finishing your degree. No matter your situation, Wolverine Essentials is here to help you stay on track and reach your goals. Using our services is easy, confidential, and open to all UM-Flint students.
Contact Wolverine Essentials
390 Harding Mott University Center
Flint, MI 48502
WolverineEssentials@umich.edu
Phone: 810-424-5277
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How we help you:
- Nutritious and supplemental food.
- Personal care and toiletry items.
- Clothing from business attire to casual wear to winter clothing.
- Financial coaching and assistance in navigating grant and scholarship opportunities.
- Resources and referrals for affordable housing, transportation and more.
- Assistance with navigating the State of Michigan benefits and programs.
- Assistance with navigating basic needs support services at UM-Flint.
About Us
Wolverine Essentials, formerly the Wolverine Food Den, started as a “by students, for students” initiative to help students who faced food insecurities on campus. In 2015, students from UM-Flint’s social work program wanted to assist in addressing food insecurities, which affect many college students. The social work department conducted a study on student food insecurity on the Flint campus. This study indicated that 58 percent of the respondents stated they skipped or missed meals due to food availability sometimes, often, or all the time, while 38 percent reported lacking basic food needs. Over 30 students worked on this project to create the Wolverine Food Den. These students successfully secured grants from the Ann Arbor campus and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan to begin the new food pantry, which opened in April 2019.
Wolverines Essentials underwent a significant transformation in the fall of 2025, driven by data collected from the student basic needs survey conducted in the fall of 2024. The newly renovated space opened in the winter of 2026, offering students expanded food and clothing storage options, as well as staff offices designed to better assist students directly.
Winter Hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mondays | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Tuesdays | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Wednesdays | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Thursdays | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Fridays | By appointment only |
Breaking Barriers, Building Success
Wolverine Essentials reflects the university’s continued investment in student success—ensuring every Wolverine has access to the resources and support needed to meet their basic needs and stay focused on their academic goals.
Our fall 2024 Student Basic Needs Survey offers critical insights reinforcing this mission. With 33% of UM-Flint students participating, the data shows that basic needs insecurity continues to impact our community:
- 52% of students experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity.
- 37% faced food insecurity in a typical month.
- 30% cut meal sizes or skipped meals due to insufficient funds.
- 41% experienced housing challenges within the past year.
- 7% missed class or work because of transportation problems.
- 10% missed assignments due to lack of internet or technology access.
These findings underscore the importance of programs like Wolverine Essentials, which help students access food, clothing, hygiene items, benefits assistance, and referrals for housing, transportation, and wellness.
Campus Events
In addition to everyday support, Wolverine Essentials hosts a wide range of events designed for all Wolverines. Join us for fun, welcoming activities—like our popular grocery bingo nights, where students can win full grocery hauls, or our annual holiday food drive, open to everyone and easy to pick up groceries for the season.
Supporting Wolverine Essential
Looking to support Wolverine Essentials? Wolverine Essentials is funded and operates with the support of generous donors and volunteers. Listed below are the ways in which you can support.
Donate – Monetary
Any amount helps! You can help support Wolverine Essentials by making a monetary donation which will be used to purchase food, toiletries, and other necessary supplies for students. All monetary donations can be made by clicking Donate Now!
Donating Needed Items
Wolverine Essentials accepts donations year round and all donations go towards supporting the needs of UM-Flint students. Items we accept include; food, new or gently used clothing, kitchenware, and toiletries. Prior to donating, please review the Donation Needs list to view guidelines for donations and the most needed items. If you have any questions regarding donating items, please contact us at WolverineEssentials@umich.edu.
Volunteering with Wolverine Essentials
Volunteers play a pivotal role in the operation and success of Wolverine Essentials Volunteers within Wolverine Essentials take on shifts anywhere from 1-5 hours every week during a semester in the academic year.
Volunteer duties include:
- Answering walk-in inquiries & telephone calls.
- Assisting with intakes, check-out, and updating our online database.
- Assisting students with locating campus and local resources.
- Helping upload and stock after deliveries.
- Maintaining inventory.
- Sorting through clothing, food, and other items.
- Maintaining the cleanliness of Wolverine Essentials.
Those interested in learning more or volunteering with Wolverine Essentials should complete our Volunteer Application. Please keep in mind we only accept a limited number of volunteers per academic semester (fall/winter only).
Volunteering with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan
Are you or your organization/department looking to volunteer while still contributing to Wolverine Essentials? You can turn volunteer hours at the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan into agency credits, which go towards covering the cost of food purchased for Wolverine Essentials! For every hour that a person volunteers, $0.95 goes towards Wolverine Essentials’ account with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan.
For more information on volunteering with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, please contact their volunteer coordinator, Keri Brack, at kbrack@fbem.us or by calling 810-396-0210.
Food, Clothing, or Supply Drive
Interested in hosting a drive to gather items for Wolverine Essentials? If so, contact us directly at WolverineEssentials@umich.edu.