SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — On a recent day at a college food pantry in California, various items such as acorn squash, Spam, and baby food were available for students. This resource has become increasingly essential for those receiving federal aid, given the uncertainty surrounding assistance during the ongoing government shutdown.
At California State University, Sacramento, known as Sac State, the Basic Needs Resource Center is visited by hundreds of students each week. They can choose from a selection of up to a dozen items per visit, including fresh produce, meats, and toiletries.
It’s a big blessing, shared Antonette Duff, a junior studying psychology at Sac State and a SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) beneficiary.
According to Emily Tupper, the college director of Crisis Assistance and Resource Education Support, over 3,600 of the roughly 31,000 students at the university utilize SNAP, paralleling trends with over 200,000 students in California and more than 1.1 million nationwide who benefit from the program.
As tuition and housing bills rise, many students juggle part-time work with classes, making it difficult to afford food, especially as prices continue to escalate.
SNAP benefits for approximately 42 million Americans were halted at the start of November due to the government shutdown. While a federal judge recently mandated full funding for the program, an emergency appeal by the U.S. Supreme Court has led to confusion amongst students relying on SNAP, leaving colleges scrambling to address food insecurity.
Students are put in a really horrible position, said Mike Hannigan, an advocate against food insecurity at Greenfield Community College in Massachusetts.
Students continue to organize initiatives, such as free farmers' markets, to support their peers in need. Colleges like Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College in North Dakota have introduced programs like 'Soup Tuesdays' for students, and many universities nationwide are ramping up efforts to feed their students as they face escalating food insecurity and uncertain federal assistance amid ongoing political disputes.
Efforts to combat food insecurity are critical as the stressors of financial instability can lead to detrimental effects on students' mental health and academic performance.
In light of the ongoing SNAP delays, many institutions are enhancing their food pantry services to ensure that no student has to decide between attending class and finding ways to afford groceries.
