Food Insecurity Among

CSU Students

A research article, surveying 1,855 students in California, published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior indicated that 40% of students were experiencing food insecurity The researchers who conducted this study argued that their findings demonstrate the importance of food pantries in terms of meeting the basic needs of students.		According to Reyna Estrada, of the Food Service Director, “nearly a third (30%) of college students had experienced food insecurity before the COVID-19 pandemic, and recent surveys by the Hope Center suggest that rate has risen since.”
Operating hours of the food pantry need to be longer, to make it more available to students who may not be able to visit the pantry due to other obligations such as work or classes. According to the official website of the ASI Food Pantry at CSUS, their hours are very limited only being open 3 or 4 hours a day, and not at all on weekends. A lot of students have jobs and a full schedule and might not be available to go during this time.	A free food pantry for all CSU students to access without having to provide proof of necessity, would both encourage more students to use it, as well as reduce any stigma students feel from going. While already offering a food pantry to students, not many know about it. Therefore, the students and schools would both benefit from better advertising this amenity to students.
	The same research study indicating 40% of students experiencing food insecurity also found that full access to a food pantry “directly improved students’ perceived health, reduced the number of depressive symptoms they experienced, increased their sleep sufficiency, and boosted food security.” The researchers claim, “these findings could be used to advocate for state or federal funding to support the work required to establish food pantries on college campuses nationwide.”

Jason Wiese takes full responsibility for the information posted. The information on this page represents that of  Jason Wiese and not that of California State University, Sacramento.

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