Today's Hours:
The Gwen Hale Resource Center was opened in 2018 by the late Dr. Gwen Hale, Director of the Writing Center at UMW. She was one of the driving forces behind the formerly named Eagle Resource Closet. The Center partners with the Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, Giant Foods, UMW Dining Services and many other on- and off-campus entities for donations. Our goal is to provide food, clothing, school supplies, toiletries and other items at no cost to any member of the UMW community. Our hope is to eliminate food insecurity. The GHRC is open to all students and staff, as well as members of the Fredericksburg community.
The GHRC is located on the 5th floor of Lee Hall. Take the elevator closest to Monroe Hall to floor “A” (for attic). Follow the signs!
The GHRC is open anytime Lee Hall is open during the school year, which is Monday-Friday 7:30 am to 7:00 pm. For access to the center outside of these hours, contact resource@umw.edu or use the linktr.ee for the door code. Hours may change in the summer.
If you need something we don’t have in the GHRC, or need assistance at a different time (or have a suggestion), please email us: resource@umw.edu. All our resources may also be found here on our linktr.ee!
Simpson Library has partnered with the Gwen Hale Resource Center to have a secondary food pantry location, called Food for Thought, in Simpson library. It’s on the first floor, behind the center stairwell. Stop by anytime the library is open to get free shelf-stable food, beverages, and supplies!
According to surveys administered in 2019, 2021, and 2025, between 20-30% of UMW students experience some level of food insecurity. 19-22% of UMW students reported skipping meals or eating less due to lack of funds, or running out of both food and money. People of color, people who work full-time while attending UMW, students who live off-campus, and older students report even higher levels of food insecurity. Other groups particularly at-risk for food insecurity are transfer students, first-generation college students, queer students, and disabled students.
Food and other basic needs insecurity has significant impacts on our lives. It increases stress, causes difficulty concentrating, and decreases our likelihood of completing courses and degrees. The GHRC intends to ease this burden as much as possible.
Come volunteer with us! To volunteer, go to our MyUMW page to sign up, use this google form, or contact us by emailing resource@umw.edu.
If you would like to donate, please email us, or you can donate to us financially through the UMW Foundation. Our donations are always welcome, either at Lee Hall or Simpson Library, as we try to fulfill our goal to ensure all of the UMW community has basic needs and enough to eat. You can bring these items directly to the center or leave them in the donation box found outside of the Center for Community Engagement (CRUC Suite 320), on the second floor of the HCC, or at the library. Please contact us if an item is perishable and needs to be picked up immediately (or place it directly in the GHRC fridge). To help guide our donations, you can have them delivered directly to us if you buy from our Amazon Wishlist !
