Pennsylvania colleges receive $1M in grant funding to tackle student hunger

The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has awarded $1 million to 30 colleges in the state to combat food insecurity on campus.

Recipient schools will be able to use the grant money to expand access to food options, create awareness initiatives and upgrade facilities. They will have until the end of the year to utilize the funds.

Each awardee is a member of the PDE’s Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, a coalition of higher education schools in the state that are focused on ending hunger and addressing other basic needs for students.

“Students of all ages learn best when they start the day with a full stomach and are better prepared to succeed when they have access to nutritious, healthy food,” said Governor Josh Shapiro in a statement. “That’s why my Administration fought for and delivered universal free breakfast in K-12 classrooms, and it’s why we’re fighting back against hunger on our college campuses. These grants will help colleges and universities across Pennsylvania improve and introduce programs to fight hunger and ensure students from every background have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed in Pennsylvania.”

Food insecurity continues to be a growing problem on college campuses across the country. A recent report by the California Student Aid Commission found that food insecurity among college students in California has increased since the pandemic.

Many schools have begun to utilize free food boxes, meal swipe donations and more to address student hunger.