‘They’re feeling it most’: Fight ongoing to end food insecurity among college students

KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY, Ga. — Aliyah Johnson plans to pursue nursing once she graduates from college. The Kennesaw State University junior was inspired by her family and community engagement while she was in high school.

“My grandparents were in and out of the hospital growing up, so seeing the nurses work beside them every day was really inspiring,” Johnson said. “My motivation really is to help people. My passion stems from being a changemaker. I feel a changemaker is someone who often sees injustices going on in the community and whether it affects them or not, they’re able to step in with intention and empathy and action.”

However, rising costs have left little money in Johnson’s pocket to cover basic needs after taking care of tuition and books. She’s had to rely on financial aid from The Higher Foundation, which provides financial assistance and resources to Georgia students for basic needs.

“I have HOPE, but it’s not going to cover my stethoscope or my scrubs,” Johnson said. “When people think about being a college student, they often think about tuition, books, and fees that come along with being a student. But you are still human at the end of the day. You still have to eat and sleep, have rent and food and transportation to get here. If you don’t have the sustenance to get through the day, you won’t be able to learn, grow and thrive as well.”

Mallorye Crowell is the founder and president of the Higher Foundation. She said a recent Hope Center Student Basic Needs survey showed that more than two out of five college students, about 41-percent, are facing food insecurity nationwide. 

“Maybe they can get food assistance through SNAP, maybe through their family if they have family with extra income, or they’re having to pick up more hours to work and make up their gap,” Crowell said. “But then that takes away time from them studying or being involved on campus.” 

Crowell praised efforts like the DREAMS scholarship, a needs-based aid program in Georgia that will launch in the fall and help students in the peach state. Around $325 million is budgeted to cover financial gaps for students. She said lawmakers at the local, state and federal level needed to do more though, to address the issue of food insecurity among college students, especially when SNAP work requirements have recently changed.

“A lot of students work already, but they do not consider the volunteer and training time a lot of students do,” Crowell said. “If the U.S. Department of Agriculture would accept that time of volunteering and training in addition to part-time work, a lot more college students would have access to SNAP and be able to overcome food insecurity.”

Crowell said while the challenge is talked about more in K-12 schools, colleges don’t get the same level of attention. She said if left unchecked, the issue of food insecurity could lead to more students dropping out of college and a reduction in the overall workforce.

Smaller colleges, Crowell said, may have a tougher time devoting resources to fight food insecurity. Johnny Brown, personal finance manager at Kroger, said the company regularly restocked pantries like Mimi’s and gave back to the community at the pantry, college, high school, middle and elementary school levels. Kroger also donated $35,000 at five different Historically Black Colleges and Universities and $2,000 in gift cards. Clark Atlanta University, Benedict College, Payne College, Savannah State University and Tuskegee University were all recipients.

“We want to do things that make sure we’re helping end hunger throughout the nation and we’re making sure waste doesn’t end up in landfills,” Brown said. 

Aliyah Johnson said she would continue to speak up for students both striving and starving. She’s working to launch a hygiene section initiative for students on campus. She hopes it can work alongside CARE Services at KSU, a pantry on campus, donations from students and other nonprofits like MUST Ministries to address food insecurity.

“A lot of students may not want to come forward and say it’s an issue I may be facing,” Johnson said. “But knowing someone is advocating and representing them makes them feel like they’re seen and valued.”