Yes, all Penn State campuses have programs in place to address student food insecurity and hunger.

All Penn State campuses have food pantries on campus or in the community which operate as programs to address student food insecurity and hunger. They provide free food and operate similarly to a satellite of a food bank location, with food in the shelf that can be obtained. Most campuses offer either food pantries, food distribution services, and/or campus community gardens.

As part of a University-wide network of support, caring and compassionate staff members are available at every campus to respond and support students who are experiencing food and housing insecurity. A complete listing of resources on all campuses can be found on the Food Support and Basic Resources website provided by Penn State Student Affairs.

Each year, a news story about food resources is published for the campus community. For example, in the fall of 2023 Penn State News published Student guide: Top five food and housing security resources to know for students starting the 2023-2024 academic year. In 2022 Penn State News published A student guide to food and housing security resources at Penn State in January, and Student guide: Five food and housing security resources to know in September.

Food insecurity resources for student include:

  • SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, a federal program funding by the federal Farm Bill): College students may be eligible for expanded SNAP eligibility if they qualify for a work-study work program (even if not participating) and have an expected family contribution of $0 on their federal student aid determination form completed for the university.
  • Project Cahir: This project was set up in the memory of a past student and can provide up to $100 on their on-campus meal plan account or LionCash+ account (university fund students, faculty and staff can opt to add money into and use to purchase food and other items on campus and in surrounding communities) for assistance with food purchases. Students can also request pre-packaged toiletries and textbook assistance.
  • Student Emergency Fund: Provides short-term financial assistance to students who are struggling with debilitating financial circumstances of an unforeseen nature.
  • Free Nutrition Clinic: Students can schedule a free appointment with a registered dietitian who can help with designing a nutritious meal plan within limited financial resources.
  • Lion’s Pantry: Provides free food, toiletries and other items to Penn State students.
  • State College Food Bank: Provides 12 regular food distributions per year to eligible clients.
  • St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Community Cafe: Provides a free dinner every Thursday from 5-7 p.m. Food is served to anyone and everyone who comes through the door. The meal is free, everyone is welcome, and donations are accepted, but they are not expected.
  • Abba Java Coffeehouse: Provides a study spot with free self-serve coffee and tea, food and Wi-Fi (located in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church).
  • Since 2020 Penn State has partnered with Swipe Out Hunger to raise greater awareness of student food insecurity and increase the impact of their efforts to raise funds to fight hunger across the University. In November of 2023 and April of 2024 students at every campus location had the option to donate $5, $10 or $15 when they pay for their meal at any residential dining facility, including mobile orders. Donated funds went toward Penn State’s Student Emergency Fund.
  • The One Garden One Penn State website hubs all the campus gardens. The gardens on the Abington, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Fayette, Hershey, Shenango, and University Park campuses provide a way to address food insecurity and hunger. For example, the Abington campus garden’s mission is “To feed each other, grow together, learn from one another, and take care of each other by cultivating engagement, education, and conservation.” and the Shenango campus garden’s mission is “To grow organic vegetables to help reduce rates of food insecurity for our students and others in our local community.”

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A Schreyer Honors Scholar studying biological engineering was instrumental in the creation of the Schreyer Pocket Garden (miniature garden) a pilot program in partnership with the Student Farm Club, the Lion’s Pantry and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA). The garden seeks to address student food insecurity and allow students to gain hands-on experience with growing vegetables that will support food security at Penn State. See the April, 2023 article Schreyer Pocket Garden sets the stage for growing impact and the May, 2024 article Schreyer Pocket Garden grows in providing food, experience to Penn State students to learn more about the impact of the program.

 

Learn more about Penn State’s progress towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals HERE and on SDG 2 HERE.