Isolation / Quarantine Meals – University of Maryland Dining Services

Dining Services is prepared to provide daily meal service to persons placed in campus provided isolation and/or quarantine spaces.

How do I get food once I have to go to quarantine/isolation housing?

The start of our involvement is when the Q/I Housing Team alerts us that you are being assigned to quarantine/isolation housing. At that time, they give us your name, email address, cell phone number and any known dietary restrictions.
We will then reach out to touch base, ask questions and provide information about what to expect from Dining Services during your quarantine/isolation period.
With the initial delivery, Dining Services will provide a case of water which generally lasts about a week. We will bring you more water when you ask for more.
A full day’s meals will be delivered once a day, in the late afternoon or early evening: that evening’s dinner and the next day’s breakfast and lunch.
We deliver your meals to your front door and knock or text to let you know that the delivery has arrived.
Deliveries will arrive refrigerated or frozen for you to microwave or store for later.
We will prepare meals fresh every day Monday to Sunday.

What if I’m taken to quarantine/isolation housing in the morning? Does my first delivery still come in the afternoon?

We will offer a “hot drop” service every morning. This feature provides food for students who were not checked in during traditional hours and who need food before that day’s scheduled afternoon delivery.

What kind of food should I expect?

We will bring you
- Dinner: an entree box with main course and sides, salad and cookies.
- Lunch: a sandwich or wrap with chips.
- Breakfast: either a hot meal or cold favorites with fruit.
These meals are delivered cold to be refrigerated or frozen until you’re ready to enjoy them.
If you have any questions or concerns, tell us about it! When you first arrived in quarantine/isolation housing, you received a text from us – respond to that text with any requests or issues. While we cannot accommodate every request, we will do what we can to make your quarantine/isolation meals as pleasant as possible.

Will you adjust the menu because I have an allergy? What about because I am a vegetarian?

What if there is a long delay between being told I have to move to quarantine/isolation housing and my being assigned a space?

The Q/I Housing Team will give us your name, building location and cell phone number.
We will coordinate meal drop-off to the front door of your residence hall.
The Q/I Housing Team will arrange for delivery of the meal to your room.

I don’t have a dining plan – will you still bring me food?

Yes, we will bring you food. Dining Services will bill you if you’re in quarantine/isolation housing but are not on a dining plan.
You can opt out of Dining Services (see below: other choices).

What if I have a meal plan through my fraternity or sorority?

If approved by the Vice President of Student Affairs, students who are assigned to quarantine/isolation housing and have contracted for meals from their fraternity or sorority may have those meals substituted for Dining Services provided meals.
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will confirm that the specific house is prepared to provide the meals and follow Dining Services protocol. This protocol will ensure that students are receiving adequate nutrition while maintaining safe food handling procedures.
Students receiving these meals will not be charged for meals by Dining Services.

What are my other choices?

Students without resident dining plans can participate in the Dining Services program and/or can elect to have food delivered to quarantine/isolation housing.
Students in on-campus apartments can receive permission to quarantine in their apartment and arrange, on their own, for grocery and food deliveries using the vendor of their choice.
Students with resident dining plans are welcome to supplement Dining Services meals by having additional meals or groceries delivered.
Alternatively, students with resident dining plans can arrange to use their dining plan toward a one-time Dining Services grocery delivery to stock up with cooking supplies. Typical grocery items include pasta, sauce, rice, cereal and other shelf stable items. Contact Mike Fry at mfry@umd.edu for this delivery. Note – If you have a dining plan, your plan will be adjusted to account for the grocery order.
Multiple local vendors are available to deliver meals or groceries to campus.