By Jala Forest / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration

Nearly 40% of college students at four-year universities are affected by food insecurity, according to a survey conducted in 2020 by Temple University's Hope Center for College, Community and Justice.

The rates of college food insecurity have increased by 30% over the last decade, according to a study by the American Public Health Association.

Over that same period, the number of food pantries on college campuses has increased nearly eightfold. According to the College & University Food Bank Alliance, there are food pantries on over 700 college campuses across the United States, compared to just 88 in 2012.

But advocates say college students need more support.

"There is a system in place in this country for low-income kids," said Hope Lane-Gavin, a health equity fellow at the Cleveland-based Center for Community Solutions. "There's free and reduced lunch, for example, and there's other TANF benefits." TANF is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a cash assistance program that directs payments to families with children in order to provide care for the children in the household.

"There's all sorts of support for kids," Lane-Gavin added - "but college students aren't viewed as kids."

Low-income students, students of color and international students most affected by food insecurity

Almost 60% of Black students and 50% of Latinx students experience food insecurity compared to 30% of their non-hispanic white peers, according to a study conducted by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab. This study also found that 46% of students who are Pell Grant recipients experience food insecurity.

"Unfortunately, the same students that have intersecting identities... [are] the same students that are unfortunately having challenges [in] likely the rest of their life," Lane-Gavin said.

Students suffering from food insecurity are more likely to fall behind in class, leading to their academic performance, health and well-being to decline.

"I feel more stress and anxiety because I know I really only do grocery shopping on weeks that I get paid," said Natalia Cruz, who is Panamanian-American and a senior theater production and political science major at Kent State University. "But when it's also a week where I have bills and stuff, sometimes I'll wait to do groceries again [until] the next paycheck just to make sure that I have enough money for all my bills."

International students are also at risk of experiencing food insecurity, said Josh Perkins, the Assistant Dean of Students of the CARES Center at Kent State University. The CARES Center provides resources to Kent State students to support their financial, housing, food, and mental well-being needs.

"We see a lot of international students come in because they're limited on the number of hours that they can work, especially if they're new students to the [United] States," Perkins said. "That leads to food insecurity for sure."

SNAP benefits temporarily extended to students

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio state government temporarily allowed college students access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) if the financial aid application process determined that their families weren't expected to contribute to their education costs.

"If those two exemptions were permanent, that would capture not everybody - but a very, very, very large amount of low-income students that need to be captured, that should be eligible for the SNAP program," said Lane-Gavin.

SNAP is the largest federally funded anti-hunger program in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine. But for college students to be eligible for SNAP benefits today, you have to meet requirements like being able to work 20 or more hours per week or being eligible to participate in work study on campus.

Cruz said the SNAP application process was challenging.

"Filling out the form [is] kind of stressful," said Cruz. "And then once you submit it, they take so long... I applied last month but I still haven't heard really anything from them."

Lane-Gavin thinks universities can do more to help students take advantage of resources like SNAP.

"That sect of universities that are in charge of student life, campus life and as well as financial aid folks need to be more well versed in how [the] SNAP program works," Lane-Gavin said.

In the meantime, campus food pantries can help students bridge gaps in between paychecks.

"We have two food pantries on the Kent campus," said Perkins of KSU's CARES Center. "I think a big piece is getting the information out there to students. We're pursuing all the avenues. We know how to get in front of students on how to get food."

This collaboration is produced in association with Media in the Public Interest and funded in part by the George Gund Foundation.


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Roughly one in eight Nebraskans who have experienced hunger is a child. The state has a chance to help their families afford groceries, but must 'opt in' to a federal program to do so.

During the COVID Public Health Emergency, families with children eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school also received Pandemic EBT funding to help them afford groceries during school closures and summer vacation. Now the U.S. Department of Agriculture is offering a similar program, Summer EBT, on a permanent basis.

Eric Savaiano, food and nutrition access program manager for the nonprofit Nebraska Appleseed, said a huge number of Nebraska children could benefit, but the state must opt in to the program.

"It's an option for states to take this program up," Savaiano explained. "And there is a small investment that's needed to authorize it. But it would pull down $18 million in benefits to be distributed to about 150,000 kids."

Savaiano explained the state would pay about $300,000 annually in administrative costs, and Nebraska families would receive $120 per eligible child for groceries in the summer.

The deadline for states to let the USDA know they are interested is Jan. 1. Nebraska is not among the 14 states and two tribal nations that have signed on so far.

Savaiano argued Nebraska children have a lot to gain and the state has little to lose by signing on in time.

"Even indicating interest does not actually lock us into participation," Savaiano pointed out. "It would just give us the opportunity to participate, while some of these final regulations for this brand-new program are released. But I think we might be out of luck if we don't even indicate our interest by January 1st."

Just over 12% of Nebraskans experience food insecurity. Savaiano observed the state's rural nature probably contributes to the figure, which is higher than the national average. But he added the state has refused "time and time again" to participate in federal programs that could have helped reduce food insecurity.

"Through the pandemic, there were lots of federal assistance programs that we refused -- sometimes first in the nation, or we ended very early -- that made it harder for people to get the food that they need," Savaiano noted.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment on the state's plans regarding the Summer EBT program.


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Today, nearly 4,000 Utahns are lacing up their running shoes and putting on a costume for the Utah Food Bank's 18th annual Utah Human Race.

Ginette Bott, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank, said as many gather in the spirit of Thanksgiving, it is an important time to remember close to 320,000 Utahns face hunger, and one in 10 Utah kids do not know where their next meal is coming from. She explained by running with an "attitude of gratitude," many are helping the food bank in the fight against statewide hunger.

"We know that what we do comes at a crucial time for people on a daily basis," Bott noted. "But when you have families that are trying to celebrate a holiday tradition, regardless of which holiday they celebrate, and they have to stretch that budget even more, what we do for families is really, really important."

The event is taking place at the Sandy Promenade and starts at eight in the morning. Runners can choose between a 5k or 10k race.

The American Farm Bureau Federation found Thanksgiving dinner was less expensive this year than last but food costs still remain high compared to years past. The group found this year's "classic Thanksgiving feast" for 10 people cost just over $6 per guest. Bott pointed out the race is part of the food bank's Holiday Food and Fund Drive and encouraged Utahns to donate food, time or money if they can.

"Any of those three things would be appreciated, and if you don't come to the Utah Food Bank, go to a pantry in your neighborhood or even another organization that you are passionate about," Bott suggested. "Time of giving is great during the holiday season, and the biggest mistake people make is not doing something."

Bott stressed for every dollar going to the Utah Food Bank, they can turn it into more than $8 worth of goods and services. She added the fight against hunger takes a communitywide approach and reminded people it is not something only applying during the holiday season but throughout the course of the year. She invited Utahns to give thought to what it is they can share with others.


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As Thanksgiving approaches, some Alabama residents are facing a meal gap crisis, forcing people to choose between buying gas and medicine or putting turkey on the table.

Each month, the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama reported they serve about 250,000 people across 12 counties who experience food insecurity on a regular basis.

Nicole Williams, CEO of the food bank, said this holiday season the food bank is preparing an extra 25,000 holiday meal boxes to help feed families.

"The holidays are really all about food and family being together," Williams explained. "We want to just ensure that our neighbors who experience food insecurity have an opportunity to have a nice meal and not feel that stress of where that food is going to come from."

She noted they are working with 230 agency partners to help distribute holiday meals throughout central Alabama between now and the end of December.

Some of the 12 counties served by the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama are located in rural areas, where food insecurities can exist at higher rates, according to an Annie E. Casey Foundation study.

Williams pointed out the need for food assistance is currently at an all-time high, which is reflected at the food bank. She said they had to start finding ways to provide holiday meals way back in June, and added inflated grocery and gas prices have impacted their operations.

"I know last year we had budgeted about $80,000 for gas and we spent more than twice that much as gas prices rose," Williams reported. "The food bank also buys food. We don't just you know take donated food and so we use grant money and donor money to buy food. So, food inflation has really affected us."

Williams added people in need of food can visit feedingal.org and click the "Find Food" button on the front page. Information on volunteering at the food bank warehouse or organizing a food drive can also be found there.


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