State College, PA – Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh yesterday toured Lion’s Pantry and The Student Farm at Penn State to highlight student-led efforts to fight food insecurity among students and ensure they have access to healthy and nutritious foods essential to their health, wellbeing, and success in school.
“Students should not have to choose between paying for their tuition and paying for groceries. Food pantries like Lion’s Pantry are a vital part of the food assistance network and a lifeline for many to help them meet their basic needs,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “I encourage students or any Pennsylvanian who needs help paying for food to apply for nutrition assistance benefits. Programs like SNAP provide extra support so that students can both pay for their education and stay nourished.”
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may be available for eligible college students who need help buying food. SNAP gives recipients extra money each month to buy food at grocery stores, online retailers, and farmers’ markets. Historically, enrollment in college or a graduate program limited a student’s ability to receive SNAP, even if their family qualified. However, state and federal policy has expanded in recent years to recognize the difficult financial realities that can occur when a person chooses to invest in their future.
The Shapiro Administration is committed to helping students at all levels of education be able to eat and nourish themselves so they are fueled and ready to learn. Most recently, Governor Shapiro secured funding to enable universal free breakfast for 1.7 million students in K-12 public schools around the Commonwealth. DHS also announced last year that colleges can certify employment programs to expand SNAP eligibility to students who qualify for the program but who would otherwise be ineligible because of their status as a student. Colleges and universities can learn more about this flexibility and how to certify programs by contacting DHS.
According to a recent report from Temple University, 39 percent of students in two-year higher education programs, and 26 percent of students in four-year programs experience food insecurity. Food pantries like Lion’s Pantry assist those who are not financially privileged and find themselves having to choose between paying for school and other education-related expenses and paying for food.
The Lion’s Pantry is a student-founded, student-run, and student-led organization providing support to students, faculty, and staff experiencing food insecurity. They offer free, nutritious food and other essentials to help individuals stay healthy and focused on their academic and professional goals. The Pantry is available to anyone with a Penn State ID.
The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State is a student-run effort including a four-acre diversified vegetable farm, the Student Farm Club, the Food Systems minor, community food system partnerships, and course-client collaborations. Through their multi-faceted programs, they provide diverse opportunities for engagement with the Penn State community and beyond.
September is Hunger Action Month, which recognizes the prevalence of food insecurity in Pennsylvania and nationally as well as the daily and long-term impacts of not having enough to eat. According to Feeding Pennsylvania, more than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians experience food insecurity every year. Inadequate food and chronic nutrient deficiencies have profound effects on a person’s life and health, including increased risks for chronic diseases, higher chances of hospitalization, poorer overall health, and increased health care costs.
For more information on SNAP, including benefits for college students, visit dhs.pa.gov.
