Pittsburgh Review

First Lady Frances Wolf and Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty recently visited Millersville University to meet with students, faculty and stakeholders, to announce the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative.

According to a release on August 4, the initiative is to help students at risk of hunger get access to free, healthy food on college campuses across the commonwealth. This and the Hunger-Free Campus+ Initiative are helping build a coalition of institutions of higher education (IHEs) across Pennsylvania, focused on hunger and basic needs of students. The coalition creates opportunities to connect student hunger advocates, provide resources and strategies and create grant opportunities for food security.

“Hunger is a devastating reality affecting too many of Pennsylvania’s postsecondary students as they strive to further their education, and today I am proud to say that, here in Pennsylvania, we are refusing to accept it,” said First Lady Wolf. “I invite all of Pennsylvania’s institutions of higher education to apply for the Hunger-Free Campus designation and join their dedicated colleagues in ensuring our students have access to the tools they need to succeed, especially nutritious food.”

Hagarty said that it is known that students need access to healthy food in order to stay focused, learn, grow and thrive. However, many students continue to face barriers.

“The Hunger-Free Campus Initiative empowers Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities to combat hunger on their campuses and provide the resources that students need to continue their education and go on to obtain family-sustaining, meaningful careers,” Hagarty said.

Pennsylvania IHEs that are addressing student hunger are encouraged to apply for the PA Hunger-Free Campus designation. Qualifying institutions will receive a certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, be recognized on the initiative website, be able to use the Hunger-Free Campus logo and be prepared for future grants.

“Food insecurity is a threat to student success on college campuses here in Pennsylvania and across the U.S.,” said Dr. Daniel A. Wubah, president of Millersville University. “It has the potential to impact academics, wellness and behavior which are factors that have bearing on student retention and graduation rates. At Millersville University we have a range of programs to help ensure our students don’t go hungry. For instance, Share Meals is a free app that MU students can use to geolocate free meals at MU. And, since 2012 we have worked with Campus Cupboard to provide a food pantry for our students.”

The state budget included an investment of $1 million to start this grant program. It is designed to enhance food pantries, increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outreach, improve data gathering and participate in initiatives that meet the nutritional needs of students. Eligible schools must have a Hunger-Free Campus designation, and a Request for Applications for grant funds is to be released in the fall.

It is reported that 36% of students know someone who dropped out of college because of food insecurity during the pandemic. About 52% of students who had faced food or housing insecurity in 2020 didn’t apply because they didn’t know how.