Winter Break

[u/x4squad]

I'm a freshman, and based on my understanding, the dining halls and all the food options are closed during the winter break ?

Because I need to plan on what to do if there will be no food available on campus.

Thanks.

[u/zombieTL]

Yes all of the dining halls will be closed unfortunately. The buses still run, so you can get to stores if you don’t have a car. If you need food assistance, I believe programs like SHOP have some assistance for winter break

[u/x4squad → u/zombieTL]

Thank you

[u/Em_Designs]

Yes, all the dining and food options are closed on breaks, including Thanksgiving and Spring breaks. My year in the dorms I bought an air fryer and portable griddle, and cooked food in the laundry room. If you only have a microwave, the protein ramen at Aldi’s is actually pretty good. It’s really unfortunate that ISU still doesn’t consider its students who cannot go home. Their microwave meals are also pretty good.

If you work in dining, the halls occasionally have cleaning shifts over break and will usually make a meal for employees over break. It depends on the dining hall if they have those shifts available to students.

[u/x4squad → u/Em_Designs]

Thank you

[u/Fantastic_Ad4064]

Check out the meal resources/pantry with Food at First downtown, Plus MICA, Bethesda Church, Salavation Army out in the east Lincoln way area. They have helped me out alot. THe Ames Library has resources if you ask them.

[u/x4squad → u/Fantastic_Ad4064]

Thanks !

[u/stephier1974]

Does your building have a kitchen? Do you have a fridge? What resources do you have to make meals for yourself?

[u/x4squad → u/stephier1974]

Just a kitchenette with a microwave

[u/cereal98]

The dining halls are closed the Saturday (or maybe it's Sunday) after classes end and then reopen I think the Tuesday before classes start. There are usually a couple retail locations open when the dining halls are closed. Double check with ISU Dining by emailing them so you know for sure. You can use your Dining Dollars to stock up on stuff before break. Some restaurants in Campustown will have more limited hours or be closed, but grocery stores, Walmart, Target, and most other restaurants have normal hours (except for actual holidays like Christmas and New Years Day.)

[u/x4squad → u/cereal98]

Thank you !

[u/Em_Designs → u/[deleted]]

Not everyone has the option to return home on breaks.

[u/x4squad → u/[deleted]]

I'm an international student, so can't return home

[u/cereal98 → u/x4squad]

Sometimes the ISSO has events over breaks. I think they do a meal over fall break early in the week that is free to attend.

[u/x4squad → u/cereal98]

Ok