Salem State Opens 'Feed A Viking Market' On-Campus Student Food Pantry

SALEM, MA — Salem State University welcomed back students for the fall with a redesigned and expanded food pantry aimed at keeping those in need nourished, healthy and well-poised to learn.

SSU opened the "Feed A Viking Market" — a retail-style space where students can pick up food, toiletries, hygiene products and other basic necessities at no cost.

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The market is on the ground floor of the Frederick E. Berry Library and Learning Commons and replaces the university's former student food pantry in the Ellison Campus Center.

Salem State marked the opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday night.

The new space opens as campus survey data points to widespread food insecurity among students. According to Salem State's Spring 2026 National College Health Assessment, 49.2 percent of students surveyed reported that their food did not last and they could not afford more, while 50.5% reported they could not afford balanced meals.

Another 24.5% reported being hungry but not eating because they lacked money.

"Food insecurity is not someone else's challenge," Salem State University President John Keenan said at the ceremony Wednesday night. "When even one student struggles to meet a basic need, it can have an impact on their health, learning, sense of belonging, and ability to achieve their goals.

"This market represents our commitment to ensuring that every student has the support they need to thrive."

The Feed A Viking Market is larger than the previous pantry and gives students a more open, self-serve setting. Shelves are stocked with dry, microwavable and cookable foods, including items that can be prepared in a residence hall or at home.

The space also includes toiletries and personal hygiene products and has room for seasonal necessities such as winter hats and gloves.

The university said the market's name and design were shaped by student input. Students recommended moving away from traditional food pantry language in favor of a market identity meant to create a more welcoming experience and reduce stigma around asking for help.

"Dignity is at the heart of this Market," said Ian Wong, director of Student Wellness CARE at Salem State. "When students walk into the Market, we want them to feel like they're shopping, not asking for help.

"That shift in experience matters just as much as the food on the shelves."

During fiscal year 2026, Salem State recorded 1,844 visits to its student food pantry and another 3,033 visits to the Salem Pantry Mobile Market, based on Clipper Card taps collected when people accessed the resources.