Center for Rural Pennsylvania’s Post

Food insecurity is becoming a key issue for higher education institutions. Check out our latest blog to get tips for fighting food insecurity on your campus – including how smart lockers can lend a helping hand. #foodinsecurity Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gV7HQZ3A

The latest episode of "Enlighten U" dives into food insecurity, how it affects college students, and campus resources available for students. #TruEMU To learn more, visit: https://true.mu/3WGjfCE

👩🏫✨ We must acknowledge that the escalating costs of education and living expenses are significant contributors to the problem of food insecurity. This issue demands sustained attention and practical solutions to guarantee fair access to food for every student. 🎓 Furthermore, pantries can play a crucial role in supporting student retention in college by addressing the challenge of food insecurity. Access to sufficient and nutritious food helps alleviate financial stress, allowing students to focus on their studies, which, in turn, positively impacts retention rates. https://lnkd.in/gJRhcTsy

The course that should be part of our school education – but isn't. If you can manage your spending and save effectively, you're most of the way to being able to plan for the future. My new course will give you the fundamental education to put you in control of money instead of letting money – or lack of it – control you. It's self-study, in bite-size chunks with a special January-only bonus live class! https://lnkd.in/dFxJaB8Q

SNAP for College Students: Finding Solutions for Food Insecurity EdTrust, TICAS, and SHEEO host a webinar featuring GAO to support the 4 million college students experiencing food insecurity to get SNAP benefits. #SNAPbenefits #StudentSuccess #BasicNeeds #Policy

One of Auxilium's mission points in food insecurity and how we can put an end to it. But first, we have to talk about it. https://lnkd.in/euDescSv

I lived on a residential campus for four years, as did most of my classmates. The process to apply to live off campus (prior to the pandemic) was cumbersome and required an application and interview process that, at the time, didn't seem worth it to me. Because of this, I was significantly behind in my cooking abilities and didn't know how to properly buy groceries or budget for them. That, though, is a story for another post. I know my primary education could have been significantly better had I been taught how to do personal and household activities (taxes, cooking, sewing, etc. bring back the home econ classes please!!). During college summer housing, the dining hall had even shorter hours and fewer options to choose from. There were hardly any options for students with dietary restrictions, and the building students were required to stay in for summer housing had the tiniest kitchen meant for 80 people to use for 2–3 meals a day. This kitchen had a stove that only had two working burners, a shared fridge that we did not share, an oven that no one wanted to use because it was summer and already sweltering in the building. And no pots or pans or utensils, despite being told that they would be provided. 🍽 There's only so many times one, especially a college student, can afford to order take out. So, you give students limited access to the dining hall and no real kitchen, and wonder why students don't want to stay for summer internships or opportunities. Then you don't provide them an education on the resources they can use (SNAP, college provided food pantries, local food pantries). Food should not be a barrier in education. I hope my higher education peers read this article to implement some of these solutions offered by Inside Higher Ed AND to improve upon the solutions they are already using.

“When all students are able to have healthy meals before and during school, they can spend their day focused on learning.”” In the year since Michigan implemented universal school meals, data shows that in “October 2023, over 6 million more breakfasts and lunches were served than in October 2022, over 11 million more breakfasts and lunches have been served this school year, on average, more than 74,000 more students are eating breakfast daily, on average, more than 122,000 more students are eating lunch daily.” Learn about the benefits of expanding USM and Solving Hunger's impact at solving-hunger.org.

In 2020, the USDA issued waivers to allow schools to provide meals at no charge to all children, no matter their household income. Two years later, these waivers expired, leaving students from struggling families who do not meet the federal eligibility threshold for free meals hungry. Today, only eight states have passed official policies that provide free school meals to all students, regardless of household income. While there is strong public support of free school meals in many other states, they have yet to pass legislation. Learn more about the current status of #SchoolMeals4All from Food Research & Action Center: https://lnkd.in/gCNtRNQa

We are so excited that 35 states, 4 Indian Tribal Organizations, and all 5 US Territories have submitted a notice of intent to run the Summer EBT program in 2024, with many more hoping to be able to adopt in Summer 2025. Through this process we have come to understand the barriers that have kept certain states logistically from running the program this summer and hope that, with TA from USDA and the support of our state advocates, we can figure out a way to bring all states into this program next summer. The summer can be the hungriest time of year for children as they lose access to school meals. While we had hoped to hit the ground running with all 50 states opting in this summer, if all states submit their final plans by Feb 15, over 20 million children will receive additional grocery benefits to help keep them fed, so they can return to the classroom in the fall ready to learn. The article does a great job of summarizing why certain states have chosen to opt out or are deferring to next summer: https://lnkd.in/dFHWfRg9