Basic Needs Resources
It’s hard to focus on our educational and future goals when we’re worried about our basic needs in life, like food or housing. This list is a starting point for getting students connected to on-campus and community resources that can help them get support for these essentials.
*Hours for community resources are subject to change. Please contact the individual organizations for the most up to date information.
On Campus
Butler’s Food Pantry
Atherton Union 301
The Butler Food Pantry is a free, confidential service for all Butler students. The Pantry is staffed by student members of the Office of Service and Community Engagement and provides nonperishable food packages for any Butler student in need of assistance.
Mon: 8:00am-2:00am
Tues: 10:00am-6:00pm
Wed: 8:00am-2:00pm
Thurs: 10:00am-6:00pm
Fri: 10:00am-6:00pm
Sat & Sun: Closed
Off Campus
Boulevard Place Food Pantry
(0.7 miles from campus)
4202 Boulevard Place, Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-924-3461
The Boulevard Place Food Pantry serves people living in the boundaries of the parishes of St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Luke, St. Joan of Arc, Christ the King and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Wed: 10:00am-12:00pm
Thurs: 10:00am-4:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-12:00pm
Mid-North Food Pantry
(1.52 miles from campus)
3333 N. Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-924-7900
The Mid-North Food Pantry’s (MNFP’s) mission is to enhance the health of our mid-north neighborhoods by providing supplemental food and basic necessities for our neighbors in need.
Mon: 10:00am-12:00pm
Wed: 10:00am-12:00pm
Fri: 10:00am-12:00pm
Crooked Creek Food Pantry, Inc.
6940 N. Michigan Rd, Suite 160, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Crooked Creek is a drive-thru food pantry working to eliminate hunger while building relationships to support the needs of families and persons it serves.
Wed: 10:00am-12:30pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm
Thurs: 1:00pm-5:00pm
Fri: 10:00am-12:30pm, 1:00pm-5:00pm
Gleaners Drive Thru Pantry
3737 Waldemere Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46241
317-925-0191
Gleaners distributes food to hungry Hoosiers through a network of nearly 300 partner agencies in 21 counties, including emergency food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters.
Tues & Wed: 10:00am-3:00pm
Thurs: 2:00pm-7:00pm
Sat: 9:00am-12:00pm
Cathedral Kitchen
(5.7 miles from campus)
1347 North Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-634-4519
The Cathedral Kitchen had its beginning during the Great Depression, when the cathedral parish handed out peanut butter sandwiches to those in need. Eventually these offerings grew to include coffee and donuts, and eventually a weekly dinner. Currently, the Cathedral Kitchen serves 3,200 meals and provides food pantry items to 1,080 clients each month.
Mon-Fri: 8:45am-10:00am
Sun: 11:30am-1:00pm
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
3001 E. 30th St, Indianapolis, IN 46218
317-924-5769
St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) offers two client choice food pantry locations in Indianapolis. Please ensure you bring proof of residency (such as a utility bill). You must also meet the Income Guidelines published by the State of Indiana. SVdP serves the poor regardless of religious affiliations, race, or national origin.
Tues: 8:00am-12:00pm
Thurs: 8:00am-12:00pm, 5:00pm-7:00pm
Fri: 9:00am-12:00pm
Sat: 8:00am-12:00pm
Community Compass
Community Compass is a free, quick, and easy app designed to show you where you can find food assistance in Marion County.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being.
To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits, which are described on this page. SNAP income and resource limits are updated annually.
Indiana Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children eat well and stay healthy. To be eligible for this benefit program, you must be a resident of Indiana and one of the following
- Pregnant; or
- Breastfeeding (up to 1 year postpartum); or
- Non-Breastfeeding Postpartum (up to 6 months); or
- Infants; or
- A child under 5 years old.
Off Campus
Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana
(4.1 miles from campus)
2950 East 38th St, Indianapolis, IN 46218
317-999-6742
Goodwill Thrift Stores offer donated goods at affordable, reduced prices to anyone in need.
Mon-Sat: 9:00am-9:00pm
Sun: 11:00am-7:00pm
Dress For Success Indianapolis
(5.8 miles from campus)
820 N Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
317-940-3737
The Style for Success provides women with clothing for a job interview or new job. It doesn’t matter if they’re unemployed, underemployed, or changing jobs – if they need help with clothing, we can help!
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm
Careergear
On Campus
Office of Residence Life
Atherton Union 303
317-940-9458
The Office of Residence Life is responsible for promoting and maintaining an environment on campus where students are free to develop academically and socially. Developing a sense of personal and communal responsibility and respecting the rights of others also is an important part of this program. Residence Life staff members oversee the management of Butler’s three residence halls and two apartment-style options.
Off Campus
Indiana 211
Dial 211
Indiana 2-1-1 connects you with a variety of social services. Trained staff will answer your call 24/7 and assist you with the agency contact information that can best help you. If you are using a cell phone, call 1-866-211-9966 or text your ZIP Code to 898-211. If you are using a landline phone, simply dial 2-1-1.
Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention (CHIP)
1014 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203
317-630-0853
Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention is the only organization in Indianapolis driving a system-wide, community response to make homelessness rare, brief, and nonrecurring. Through leadership and collaboration, CHIP: Secures funding for housing and services; Manages and analyzes data collected by homeless providers; Advocates for policy change at the local and national levels; Supports community partners as we work together to end homelessness
Wheeler Mission
205 East New York St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Admin Office: 317-635-3575
Wheeler is a non-denominational, Christian, social services organization, which provides critically needed goods and services to individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, and need in Central and South Central Indiana without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, creed, national origin, or religion.
Hours and Location Vary.
Oxford House
Multiple Locations
Oxford House offers self-help for recovery without relapse to members addicted to drugs and alcohol. Each Oxford House offers a proven, effective, and low-cost method for preventing relapse. The goal is to provide safe and supportive housing for individuals in recovery.
Gennesaret Health Recovery Homes
Men’s Health Recovery Home: 317-653-6041
Women’s Health Recovery Home: 317-536-2750
Gennesaret Free Clinic’s Health Recovery Homes are transitional housing for men and women experiencing homelessness to live in after being discharged from the hospital. Here, they have a place to focus on their health and achieve personal goals in a safe, stable environment instead of trying to manage their physical health concerns while living in a shelter or on the street.
On Campus
Uber for Butler Students
Atherton Union 100
317-940-9361
To provide the student body with more options for seamless travel between campus and select locations, the Butler University Student Government Association is excited to relaunch its transportation partnership with Uber. With Uber, all full-time undergraduate students will be able to charge select rides directly to Student Government Association.
Take advantage of full transportation coverage to/from these area health services:
- Ascension St. Vincent Medical Campus
- Ascension Urgent Care
- Indiana Youth Group
- Julian Center
Have full transportation coverage to/from these health service providers due to a referral from one of the services above:
- Nora Urgent Care
- Athletico Physical Therapy
- Northwest Radiology
Utilize full transportation coverage to Indianapolis transportation centers during the 3 days before and 3 days after scheduled holiday breaks:
- Indianapolis International Airport
- Julia M. Carson Bus Transit Center
Enjoy discounted trips to the IUPUI campus for classes through the Consortium for Urban Education, Engineering Dual Degree Program, and ROTC programs. Students will receive $5.00 off per ride between the hours of 7:30am and 9:30pm.
Take advantage of discounted trip coverage to several area groceries. Students will receive $5.00 off their ride. Limited to 2 trips per month.
- Target – Glendale
- Saraga International Grocery
Off Campus
IndyGo Bus System
317-635-3344
IndyGo is the largest transit agency in Indiana! With 30 routes to choose from, IndyGo can help you reach your destination easily and affordably!
Customer Care Center Hours
Mon-Fri: 6:00am-7:00pm
Sat-Sun: 7:00am-4:00pm
On Campus
Free Microsoft 365 ProPlus
Microsoft 365 (previously known as Office 365) ProPlus apps are available for current students, faculty, staff, and Affiliates who qualify for a Butler technology account to download for personal use at no cost.
Off Campus
Affordable Connectivity Program
Depending on your circumstances, including if you’re a Pell Grant recipient, you may be eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides a monthly discount toward internet service and a one-time discount to purchase a computer, laptop, or tablet. The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more.
Off Campus
Central Indiana Child Care Answers
Child Care Answers offers free support and information on quality child care and development in the Marion, Hamilton, and Hendricks counties.
Head Start, Family and Social Services Administration
Early Head Start programs serve infants, toddlers and pregnant women and their families who have incomes below the federal poverty level. Early Head Start programs were established in recognition of the mounting evidence that the earliest years matter a great deal to a child’s growth and development.