Long Island Cares, Inc | The Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Post

NASPA, in collaboration with 112 organizations, has signed a letter urging the Biden-Harris Administration to take decisive action in addressing food insecurity among college students. By streamlining access to SNAP benefits and eliminating burdensome eligibility barriers, we can help millions of students stay enrolled, complete their education, and enter the workforce with greater economic security. Investing in student well-being is investing in our future workforce. 📃Read the letter: https://bit.ly/4hItnmz 🔗Learn more about NASPA policy and advocacy: https://bit.ly/4fH0Tru #EndStudentHunger #HigherEdAccess #StudentSuccess

NEW FEDERAL GUIDANCE ON SNAP FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS As part of its efforts to ensure that eligible college students receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as "food stamps") benefits, Federal Student Aid an Office of the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance last week entitled SNAP Benefits for Eligible Students. View the guidance at https://lnkd.in/enzWa4m2 A recent report from the US Government Accountability Office estimates that 67% of college students potentially eligible for SNAP did not report receiving benefits. View the GAO report at https://lnkd.in/egxigF6f #HigherEducation #College #BasicNeeds #BasicNeedsInsecurity #FoodInsecurity #FoodStamps #SNAP #CollegeStudents

Check out this new guidance on SNAP for college students. If you are interested in learning more about how colleges can help facilitate access to public benefits while pursuing their education, check out https://lnkd.in/eW7Xsrs5.

Federal data suggests that nearly 1-in-4 of undergraduates experience food insecurity, and that 67% of students likely eligible for SNAP are not receiving benefits. We must do better, as individuals, as organizations, as institutions. You can guarantee this problem, and our failing as a higher education system, won't go away. But you can count just as surely on the good, hard work of people fighting this fight. Let's dig in. #Hunger #HigherEd #HigherEducation #StudentSuccess #FoodDignity #FoodSecurity #FoodInsecurity

Today is our #Meals4AllNY Social Media Day of Action in honor of National School Lunch Week! Thanks to major state investments, 350K additional NY students returned to school this fall with access to free school meals, no questions asked. More New York schools than ever are now offering universal free school meals. But there's still work to do: thousands of students continue to be means-tested for school meals. We know that when school meals aren't available free for all, the kids who need them most choose not to eat. School meals are an essential school supply-- just like textbooks, desks and school-issued technology-- one that every student should be entitled to. That's why I stand with my colleagues at Hunger Solutions New York in urging Governor Hochul to make New York the next state to provide universal free school meals statewide. You can help! Sign up for updates on advocacy opportunities: https://lnkd.in/eQqHsqZh #Meals4AllNY #NSLW

It's that time of year again...and no, we don't mean Christmas 🎅 In the season of darker, colder, and soggier mornings, schools across the nation have to send out stern reminders to not park at school gates during drop-off and collection. But with such a prevalent and increasingly clichéd message, schools in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland needed a new way to grab drivers' attention. We worked with the Road Safety Education team (a collaboration between Leicestershire County Council, Leicester City Council, Rutland County Council, National Highways, and Leicestershire Police) to create a unique spin to this message, designed to cut through and create a behaviour change in parents of school-aged children. We created the campaign for paid social, but the creative was so eye-catching it was also used across council and school comms, including student Road Safety Week in November. Did you spot our campaign running earlier this month? What did you think - has this creative stuck with you during those hectic school runs?

The #ProductivityCommission recommends changes for a fairer early childhood education and care system that helps kids get the best start. Service providers, decision makers and communities will need good data and information to tell them where change is needed most, and how we're tracking toward the goals of these reforms. https://lnkd.in/gBCUFh4y

📢 Exciting news for students nationwide! The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Education (FSA) have announced a historic partnership to strengthen SNAP awareness and access for college students. This is a monumental step in addressing the "college SNAP gap," where 67% of the 3.3 million students eligible for SNAP benefits aren’t receiving the food assistance they need. At the Student Basic Needs Coalition (SBNC), we know the impossible choices students face between groceries, textbooks, tuition, and housing. That’s why initiatives like this are so critical in empowering students with access to essential resources. The collaboration between USDA and FSA to increase SNAP awareness, conduct direct outreach to low-income students, and leverage FAFSA data to identify eligible students enhances our own efforts in basic needs advocacy. Through these strategies, we can help ensure that students have access to food assistance without the obstacles of misinformation or lack of knowledge about eligibility. 🌟 How you can help: 1️⃣ Host SNAP Awareness Events to dispel myths and guide students through the application process. 2️⃣ Partner with SBNC to implement SNAP Into Action at your campus. 3️⃣ Advocate for Data-Sharing Initiatives to reach more eligible students effectively. Join us in building a future where every student can succeed without hunger as a barrier. Read our full statement here: https://lnkd.in/e2--MjYf Together, we can close the college SNAP gap. 💪 #FoodSecurity #SNAP #HigherEd #StudentSuccess

Share information and create opportunities for kids to LEAP—learn, empathize, act, and persist—against food insecurity and get a free hunger education toolkit. Read now: https://hubs.ly/Q02XJwbC0

The Power of Afterschool Programs: Reducing Juvenile Delinquency 🕒🏫 For students in low-income communities, access to structured afterschool programs can be transformative. Research from the National Institute on Out-of-School Time shows that schools without afterschool programs face higher rates of juvenile crime, especially during peak hours from 3 PM to 6 PM, when kids are often unsupervised. 📊 At LIFT Enrichment, we believe every child deserves a safe, engaging place to go after school. Our cooking programs go beyond teaching healthy eating—they create a structured, supervised environment where students can build confidence, develop social skills, and stay on a positive path. 🍽️✨ Here’s why afterschool programs are essential: https://lnkd.in/gjJf4e7g  ✅ Reduced Juvenile Crime: Afterschool programs provide a safe space for students during high-risk hours, reducing the chances of risky behavior. ✅ Social Skill Development: Activities like cooking foster teamwork, patience, and problem-solving, helping students become well-rounded individuals. ✅ Building a Brighter Future: Structured afterschool options keep students focused on healthy, productive activities, shaping a better tomorrow. Stay informed—subscribe today and be the first to know about new insights in afterschool education! 🔗 Ready to make a difference? 💌 Sign up for our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gsuqgcMz  🔗 Book a meeting to see how LIFT Enrichment can benefit your school: 👉 BOOK HERE:  https://lnkd.in/gbbqZEAE #LiftEnrichment #AfterschoolPrograms #SafeCommunities #StudentSuccess #JuvenileDelinquencyPrevention #EducationMatters