Serving Students Facing Food Insecurity
Nakiel Coleman andDr. Kim Buch
1 Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
INTRODUCTION:According to the USDA, food insecurity can be defined as a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food. Food insecurity has become more relevant among the college student population due to factors such as yearly rising tuition and lack of financial assistance. It is estimated that an average of 29% of students on college campuses face some sort of food insecurity. A fairly new solution to this issue are college campus food pantries. They are a growing trend, developed to assist students who struggle financially with providing nutritious food for themselves and their families. There is little research on food insecurity among college students yet we see it as a pattern across the nation. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte opened a pantry in the fall of 2014, serving both undergraduate and graduate students who faced temporary or on-going food insecurity. Who are the students that we are serving with the food pantry? What is the pattern of use among these students?
METHODS:We analyzed preliminary data which was obtained during the food pantry’s first year of operation. Upon arrive at the food pantry, students in need were asked to fill out an intake form which asked questions on their demographics as well as their need for assistance. They were then asked to sign a pledge on the form which confirmed their honest need for the assistance before proceeding to gather the items of their choice. Clients were allowed to return to the pantry once a week during operation hours on Mondays and Thursdays between 3pm- 6pm.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:From the intake forms, we were able to determine how many undergraduate and graduate students were being served at the pantry as well as how often they were returning. The form provided us with information on how often the student was food insecure and how often they planned on utilizing the pantry based on their responses. From the data, we were mostly serving the graduate student population and most students had an ongoing expectancy to utilize the pantry.Overall, the Niner Food Pantry has been a success for its first year of operation. We know that the average population suffering from food insecurity is 29%, yet we have only been able to reach approximately 1.78% of the college population. What can we do to reach out to more students in need? We know the need for assistance is there.
A pie chart describing how often students who utilzed the campus food pantry experienced food insecurity. Majority of students who reported stated that they feel food insecure occasionally.