Most former students can think back to their time in college and remember the dreaded early morning classes, late nights of cramming for exams and interesting roommate experiences. But some students had an added stressor to worry about: food insecurity.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as “the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.”
Food insecurity affects students on college campuses around the country. Researchers at Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community and Justice conducted a study in 2020 in which they found that nearly 40% of HBCU students face food insecurity during their time in college.
“Compared to the national average, students enrolled at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and most other types of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) experience higher levels of food insecurity,” the study says. “Nearly 2 in 5 undergraduate students at HBCUs (38.8%) and more than 1 in 3 students at TCUs (35.5%) report food insecurity.”
Jackson State University’s Tiger Pantry is a free resource that provides food and sometimes toiletries and personal-care items to students in need. Photo by Shaunicy Muhammad
The Hope Center similarly found and reported high levels of basic needs insecurity among the 14 HBCUs and approximately 5,000 HBCU students who participated in its fall 2020 survey.
One common way colleges support students struggling to balance the costs of college and feeding themselves is through on-campus food pantries.
JSU Associate Director of Housing Operations Shonda DeVerteuil, who runs the on-campus Tiger Pantry, wants to eliminate situations where students are forced to choose between paying for college necessities and eating.
“This is the thing that softens my heart and makes me feel really good,” DeVerteuil said on Nov. 16. “I know the pantry is a resource that helps these students. Sometimes you’re studying and you might need that popcorn or whatever to nibble on so that you can focus on your studies.”
The Tiger Pantry at Jackson State University has supported students who struggle to balance affording college
