Food insecurity among college students is often overlooked by the general public, but it is a real issue.
“College is expensive, and people don’t realize that students — especially at private schools — can struggle to afford basic necessities,” said Heather Starr Fiedler, managing director of Point Park University’s center for civic and community engagement. “There’s an assumption that if someone can pay private school tuition, they can afford food. That’s not always the case.”
Nationwide, 59% of college students report some form of basic needs insecurity, ranging from food and housing to transportation or health care, according to Temple University’s Hope Center for Basic Student Needs. About 41% experience food insecurity.
At Point Park, 56% of students experience one form of basic need insecurity and 43% experience food insecurity, Fiedler said.
This week, the state department of education announced $1 million across 30 universities in an effort to combat food insecurity on campus and expand access to food options.
Point Park will use its $33,500 to grow its Pioneer Pantry, an initiative the university started in 2017 to help alleviate collegiate basic needs and food insecurity, Fiedler said.
The pantry provides ready to eat meals, canned goods, a meal prep kit, and meals for students that remain on campus during academic breaks, Fiedler said. Point Park has a commercial kitchen where students can make food or learn to make food, she said.
Anyone with a valid Point Park ID can use the pantry, she said. Its use has increased over the years.
“College has changed,” Fiedler said. “We, as university administration, see the need to have students in the classroom that are well-fed and have a place to sleep at night, or they won’t be able to learn.”
At Slippery Rock University, 38% of students reported experiencing some form of basic need insecurity, and 27% reported food insecurity, said Tori Kapopoulos, associate director of student support.
“With college students, there’s a general misconception with access to food and meal plans because we have dining services on campus,” she said. “But we have a large population of students that live off campus.”
SRU will use its $60,000 to expand its Rock Pantry Plus, offering free food and toiletries to current university students, Kapopoulos said. She also reported an increase in use with SRU’s food pantry. SRU will also put funds toward awareness and ways to help with transportation to grocery stores, she said.
“A student who is hungry is not going to be able to focus as well in the classroom,” Kapopoulos said.
Chatham University will use its $20,000 to expand the existing Shadyside Essential Needs Pantry, and purchase menstrual products for its essential needs corner in the student health office, said Hayden Barns, a registered nurse at the university.
The money will also go toward buying food and supplies for students staying on campus during academic breaks, and provide extra supports to students who have applied to Chatham’s emergency fund, she said.
Barns said a 2017 study found 30% of Chatham students experience food insecurity, and a study completed last fall continues to show it is still an issue for students.
Chatham’s hunger-free campus task force also coordinates a monthly distribution of free, fresh produce through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Barns said. Point Park and Slippery Rock undergo similar distributions.
Chatham also offers monthly nutrition education through a partnership with Adagio Health, referrals to Just Harvest, a non-profit that provides support for applying for SNAP benefits, and an ongoing partnership with the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, Barns said.
In addition to Point Park, Slippery Rock and Chatham, Carnegie Mellon University received $60,000; Robert Morris received $40,000 and Carlow University received $20,000 in state funding to combat food insecurity on campus.