Hunger on College Campuses
A recent survey from Temple University found that nearly 50% of students at more than 100 postsecondary schools couldn't afford to eat a balanced meal and 35% of students were skipping meals entirely because they did not have enough money for food.
Food insecurity among college students can affect college completion rates because students may be forced to drop out in order to solve their hunger problem. Since 2012, the Regional Food Bank has partnered with college campuses across the state to create food pantries for students.
“Most people don’t think about college students suffering from food insecurity and hunger, and even more people don’t even think about the staff either. We have had some staff members who work tirelessly day in and day out come through our pantry. They share with us that they don’t make a whole lot of money and that they are trying to feed their families. Our pantry has tried to assist every member of the campus community because its students and staff here that sometimes get forgotten about.”
– University of Oklahoma Food Pantry
