The Tiger Market: Helping Students Thrive Beyond Academics

Students and staff hear about the Tiger Market often, so, what is it?

While the Tiger Market is a community food pantry centered around Urbana students and families, it is also much more. It is a place for students to get food, yes, but it also provides personal care items and a place to connect with people who care.

Before the Tiger Market was named, it was simply known as an offshoot of the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, who funded the project through grant money. When USD staff member Sheri Langendorf got involved in 2019, she thought creating a name with more personality than “food pantry” would lead to more connection and distigmatize students getting help. And so, the iconic name “Tiger Market” was born.

Beyond grants from Eastern Illinois Foodbank, the Tiger Market receives help from another service organization named Altrusa, which has continued to expand with monetary donations and student and community volunteers.

Langendorf also says that deans and other staff and administrators have been very helpful and supportive while spreading the word and expanding access to the Tiger Market. Whereas in the past students had to receive a pass to go in and shop, the market now sets up during school lunch periods to increase accessibility and awareness.

Langendorf said, “the dream is to have food available for any student and their family- there is no other requirement- just being available for any student.”

Throughout the years, the Tiger Market has evolved from a nameless food pantry to a resource center, seeking to make it known that students are cared about. Volunteers are making sure students’ needs are being met. Making conscious efforts to support students inside and outside the classroom is what the Urbana Staff and community volunteers are working towards.

The Tiger Market is available with a staff member at the end of each school day, as well as in the commons during all three lunch periods every Thursday.