The Mosaic Pantry at Feed-A-Bull Tampa celebrates 10th anniversary with upgraded, expanded space

Sept. 30, 3025
by Molly Urnek

A decade ago, Katie Webster, MPH ’13, saw life-saving potential in an 8-by-10-foot closet.

A registered dietitian, Webster had been counseling USF students on nutrition when she noticed a troubling trend. Time and time again, her recommendations on healthy eating were met with the same refrain: “I can’t afford that.”

Driven by a deep concern for the growing number of struggling students, Webster teamed up with a colleague in 2015 to launch Feed-A-Bull, USF Tampa’s on-campus food pantry. What began as a modest space would quickly become a lifeline to many students facing food insecurity.
Within its first year, the pantry had over 600 visits and provided nearly 8,000 pounds of food to students in need. 

“It’s rewarding to know you’re making a difference,” Webster says. “There’s always more we can do, but hearing from students who say things like, ‘I don’t know what I would’ve done without this service’ — those moments really stay with you.”

Over time, Feed-A-Bull saw a steady rise in demand and moved to a new location within the Student Services Building. Yet even in its larger home, the pantry continued to operate under tight constraints — shelves closely arranged and packed tightly with donated goods, and students often asked to wait outside due to crowding.

That changed earlier this year, thanks to a $100,000 gift from Mosaic. The donation funded a major renovation, doubling the pantry’s footprint and enabling the installation of commercial refrigeration units. 

“It's so exciting, because when I think back to 2015 when we opened, we were in a tiny office,” says Webster. “We’ve progressed so much and are grateful for Mosaic’s support as we continue to do our best to meet the need.”

The pantry can now accommodate more inventory and welcome students more freely, no longer constrained by the six-in, six-out system that once mitigated crowding and lines at the door.

“Mosaic’s mission is to help the world grow the food it needs, and we believe in doing our part in the fight against hunger,” says Jackie Barron, Mosaic’s stakeholder and media manager. “Mosaic is a longtime supporter of USF and employs many alumni. When we became aware of the need to expand the pantry, we knew we could make a difference in the lives of these students.” 

In the 2024-25 academic year, the pantry recorded over 10,000 student visits and provided nearly 52,000 pounds of food. Since opening its doors 10 years ago, the Mosaic Pantry at Feed-A-Bull Tampa has distributed just over 250,000 pounds of food.

This fall, students began accessing the service on the very first day of classes, underscoring the urgency of their need. Just three weeks into the fall semester, it had already served over 700 students.

“The utilization rate has been on an upward trajectory over the last couple of years, with the most significant spike having been within the last two years,” Webster says. 

Mosaic Pantry at Feed-A-Bull Tampa’s inventory is largely supplied with bi-weekly deliveries from the nonprofit Feeding Tampa Bay and monthly deliveries from Publix supermarkets. Representatives from Mosaic also helped stock the shelves and the newly expanded office space, which is being used to store overflow food supplies, with non-perishable goods. 

“Our team of employees who helped stock the shelves in this new space are all USF alumni,” Barron says. “This is a great partnership between USF, Feeding Tampa Bay and Mosaic to support a demographic that you might not typically think of when it comes to food insecurity. Students need proper nutrition to thrive academically, and we’re honored to make that a reality for those using this pantry.” 

The Mosaic Pantry at Feed-A-Bull Tampa team is excited about offering more refrigerated items like produce, eggs, dairy and ready-to-eat deli items — everything from pre-made sandwiches to full meals.

“The new cooler is the first place students go when they come in,” says Lyndsay Schuler, a senior majoring in health sciences who is in her third year working at the pantry. “They love the fresh produce, so it empties quickly.”

While Webster is the only staff member overseeing the Tampa-campus pantry, she is supported by a team of Federal Work Study students, including Schuler, who share her passion for supporting the health and well-being of those in need. Having grown up with a single mother and experienced food insecurity and financial hardship herself, Schuler was drawn to support the pantry and her fellow Bulls.

“I’ve loved connecting with so many students here, since I’ve had to use resources like this as well,” Schuler says. “I get to make a difference for students like other people have done for me.”

In addition to supplemental groceries, the pantry offers students nutrition education, healthy recipes and personal hygiene items.
With two out of every five USF students experiencing food insecurity, the Mosaic Pantry at Feed-A-Bull Tampa has become a vital resource, and its reach continues to grow. 

“We are serving just a small percentage of our students who could benefit,” Webster says. “We want to continue to get the word out and make sure students know this is an available resource.”

The pantry welcomes donations to help fill the expanded space. Food donations can be made in person at the Student Services building, 12220 USF Mango Drive, in SVC 0002, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except university holidays). Philanthropic donations can be made at the link below.