Sustainability

CC Pantry Exchange

Welcome to the CC Pantry Exchange. This program is a partnership between Campus Activities and the Office of Sustainability bringing together an area where students can access food on one side and swap out used items on the other side. Led by Campus Activities, the CC Pantry supports students facing food insecurity by providing nutritious fruits and vegetables along with shelf-stable meals. The CC Exchange, led by the Office of Sustainability aims to reduce waste by providing opportunities to donate gently used items that contribute to CC's overall well-being by meeting basic needs. Together, these programs create the CC Pantry Exchange.

For questions about the CC Pantry, email Campus Activities at campusactivities@coloradocollege.edu 
For questions about the CC Exchange, email the Office of Sustainability at sustainability@coloradocollege.edu 

The CC Exchange

The CC Exchange (formally known as the Swap Space) is coordinated by the Office of Sustainability. CC Exchange was started by EnAct, one of CC’s longest-running clubs on campus many years ago. Originally, the CC Exchange was to provide a space for students to reduce their waste by donating their gently used items that otherwise may have ended up in the landfill.

Since partnering with Campus Activities and moving under the Office of Sustainability, the CC Exchange will continue to build on that idea. The program aims to reduce waste generation and increase waste diversion on campus, expanding the reach of the program by collaborating with community partners (both on- and off-campus) and supporting CC students by providing a space that contributes to their overall well-being by meeting basic needs and more!  

Students can come and bring gently used clothing items and accessories for donation and swap them with other items to reduce waste and contribute to the overall well-being of the CC community. Students do not need to donate to pick up items from the space.

Open Hours
  • Academic Year (Weeks 1-3)
    • Thursdays from 2-4 PM 
  • Block Break & Summer Hours
    • Closed 
How To Donate 

The CC Exchange accepts donations from the CC community. Donations are accepted during open hours of the space. There is a donation box inside the CC Exchange space where items may be placed. Please DO NOT drop off items outside the door. If our times do not work for your schedule, please reach out to sustainability@coloradocollege.edu to arrange a donation drop-off with our team. 

Please note that we may not take certain items throughout the year due to limited storage space. Please refer to the donation guidelines below. 

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partnerships & projects

The CC Exchange works with many on- and off-campus partners throughout the year. on a wide range of events, programs, and projects. Check out some of our most recent and ongoing partnerships below! 

Teaming up with the Career Center, the CC Exchange ran its first-ever clothing drive, focusing on professional wear! The response from the CC community was nothing short of amazing - staff, faculty, and even members of the Board of Trustees donated a whopping 197 lbs. of stylish attire.  These garments will soon find new homes among CC students, ensuring they are ready for interviews and future career events. Students can swing by the CC Exchange to check out these fantastic finds. You can also stop by the Career Center if you need any last-minute blazer emergencies!

The CC Exchange collaborates with Residential Experience to lend a hand in managing the laundry rooms across campus. Throughout the year, these rooms tend to turn into unintentional spots for abandoned and/or forgotten clothes. In response, the CC Exchange works closely with the RLCs and RAs to take in these items, providing them with a second chance at being claimed. What's even better is that after a month of going unclaimed, individuals seeking their lost clothing may just stumble upon them at the CC Exchange. Currently, this initiative is up and running at Hybl and Mathias, with plans to extend the program to all laundry rooms in the next years. 

Twice a year, the CC Exchange hosts two pop-up events, breaking free from the confines of the Worner basement to engage with the campus community. The 1st pop-up in fall was a collaborative effort with Arts & Crafts, The Butler Center, and CCSGA integrating the pop-up into the Halloween weekend festivities. The 2nd pop-up celebrated spring cleaning and sun-soaked days. Across both pop-ups and multiple days, the CC Exchange saw ~300 students stop by, some of who proudly sported their new finds straight out of the event.

In FY24, the CC Exchange received ~1,000 pounds of donations. However, with such an influx, inevitably some items didn't quite fit the bill or lingered in the space for too long. To play our part responsibly, these items are directed to two distinct destinations. If the clothing is still in good shape, the CC Exchange donates them to the Springs Rescue Mission. For those items that we do not accept or are in poor shape, we've invested in a Fabric & Clothing Zero Waste Box from TerraCycle, ensuring they undergo proper end-of-life recycling.

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Report an issue - Last updated: 05/29/2024

The CC Pantry

The CC Pantry is a space led by Campus Activities and provides free food and supplies for students who are struggling financially or facing food insecurity on campus. This space is a welcoming and stigma-free environment for students. To sustain the pantry and meet the needs of the campus community, we ask that students take only what they need. We also encourage folks to bring their reusable bag to place CC Pantry items in. For more updates follow the CC Pantry Instagram @ccpantry! 

If you are experiencing extreme food insecurity and the CC Pantry is not enough to meet your needs, please reach out to the following offices:

Open Hours
  • Academic Year (Weeks 1-3) 
    • Wednesdays from 1-3 PM
    • Thursdays from 2-4 PM
  • Block Break Hours
    • Thursdays from 9:30-11:00 AM 
  • Summer Hours
    • Closed
 Sign Up for the CC Pantry 

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Supporting the CC Pantry

The CC Pantry Exchange is made possible through funding from CCSGA and generous donors. Thanks to the generosity of donors, we were able to renovate the old mail room into this larger space. We also hired student employees to support the operations and bought a refrigerator, which broadens the opportunities for frozen fruits and vegetables in addition to our standard fresh produce.  If you would like to donate financially to support the program, please visit GiveCampus.  You can also support this by visiting the CC Pantry Amazon.com Wishlist. 

In addition to the CC Pantry, there is also a food shelf right outside our door. The CC community can drop off a few items on this shelf as often as they would like. This way, students can grab an item in a pinch. You can also donate reusable grocery bags on this shelf

Additional Resources 

Students facing food insecurity may be eligible for SNAP benefits. To learn more, one can visit the SNAP eligibility webpage. If you are an international student looking at SNAP, please reach out to Global Education and Field Study at isss@coloradocollege.edu for more information.