Grocery Shuttles

Supporting Student Wellness Through Accessible Transportation

What Is the Grocery Shuttle?

The Rutgers Student Basic Needs Grocery Shuttle is a bi-weekly, free transportation service launched in September 2025 by the Rutgers Basic Needs Center. It was created to help Rutgers–New Brunswick students overcome transportation barriers to accessing affordable, nutritious, and culturally diverse groceries.

This initiative builds on Rutgers’ longstanding commitment to student wellness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university introduced the Mobile Food Pantry, which delivered groceries directly to students across campus. That mobile model laid the foundation for more structured transportation solutions—culminating in the launch of the grocery shuttle.

The shuttle complements existing food access programs such as the Student Food Pantry, Mobile Food Pantry, and Market Bucks Program, and provides direct access to nearby stores including: ShopRite (A Saker Family Store), H Mart, Aldi, and Walmart—allowing students to shop for nutritious and culturally diverse groceries without the added cost or stress of travel.

Importantly, this program is separate from the Rutgers Global Grocery Shuttle, which is coordinated by Rutgers Global and primarily serves international students with trips to international markets and specialty stores. While both shuttles aim to support student wellness, the Basic Needs Grocery Shuttle is open to all Rutgers–New Brunswick students and is part of a broader mission to ensure that no student’s academic success is hindered by unmet basic needs.

Fall 2025 Grocery Shuttle Schedule

• When: Bi-weekly on Thursdays & Saturdays
  • September 6, 11, 20, 25
  • October: 4, 9, 18, 22
  • November: 1, 6, 15, 20
  • December: 4, 13, 18*
• Departure Start Times (Appointment Needed): 10 AM
• Return Time (Varies based on Appointment time): 3 PM
• Shuttles will loop to and from campus based on appointments
• Pickup Location: College Avenue Student Center - In Front of Panera

Where Does the Shuttle Go?

This fall, the Rutgers Grocery Shuttle will take students to a variety of stores near South Plainfield, NJ, offering affordable and culturally diverse grocery options:

• ShopRite – A Saker Family Store
  • 6781 Hadley Rd., South Plainfield, NJ 07080
    A full-service grocery store offering fresh produce, pantry staples, and household essentials.
• H Mart 
  • 1761 Lincoln Hwy., Edison, NJ 08817
    A popular destination for Asian groceries, fresh seafood, and international ingredients.
• Aldi
  • 1321 Centennial Ave, Piscataway, NJ 08854
    Known for budget-friendly prices and quality private-label products.
• Walmart
  • 1303 Centennial Ave, Piscataway, NJ 08854
    A one-stop shop for groceries, personal care items, and household goods.

Who Can Ride?

• All Rutgers–New Brunswick students with a valid RUID are eligible to use the Grocery Shuttle.
• Current pantry users can sign up for a shuttle slot by logging into their existing PantrySoft account, or by creating a new one.

Why Use the Shuttle?

• Free transportation to grocery stores
• Supports food security for students
• Convenient and reliable weekly service
• Connects with other Basic Needs services like the pantry and Market Bucks