Fighting Hunger on Campus: The Power of Food Pantries and Smart Lockers

State of Food Insecurity in Higher Education

Rising tuition, growing inflation, and higher housing costs have contributed to students feeling the squeeze in their budgets. It’s unsurprising then, that food insecurity is surging across college campuses today.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, 13% of U.S. households face food insecurity, but the crisis runs deeper on college campuses.¹ The Hope Center reports that food insecurity affects 29% of students at four-year universities and an even more troubling 38% at two-year colleges.² Some institutions face graver challenges, with up to half their student population struggling to maintain consistent access to food.

The impact of food insecurity is significant. Trellis Research manager Allyson Cornett states students from food-insecure households are 43% less likely to graduate from college. Further, they suffer from lower grades, poorer sleep, lower nutrition, and higher anxiety.³

Innovative Ideas for Food Security

To address this growing problem, higher education institutions are getting creative to help food insecure students get access to the services they need. At the University of Missouri Kansas City, where almost 26% of students experience food insecurity, the food assistance team has been working for years to give students better access to their services.⁴

Meanwhile, Northern Illinois University’s Edible Campus program includes a fruit and vegetable garden nestled near a dormitory. The garden is free to pick and open to students and the community. Bryan Flower, the program director, also created a free meal prep program after realizing students did not have access to kitchens while living in the dorms. As he explains: “I’ve had students who have said, if I didn’t have this, that I could pull out of my freezer, I’d be going from breakfast all the way to dinner not having anything to eat.”⁵

The Growth of Food Pantries

A stark indicator of student hunger is the explosion of college food pantries, which have skyrocketed from 80 10 years ago to 800 today. Breaking ground in addressing student hunger, Montclair State University established New Jersey’s first four-year university food pantry in 2016.⁶ In the South Bronx, Hostos Community College served up 8,000 meals in 2023.⁷ And the University of Oklahoma’s pantry served over 450 student and staff meals from an average of 180 in prior semesters.⁸ Matt Marks, who runs the Sooner program, summarizes one of the pantry’s goals: “There are times where you can feel there’s a stigma or a shame that may prevent them from asking for help.”

4 Steps to Consider When Implementing a Food Pantry

To ensure a seamless implementation of a food pantry, here are four key steps to consider:

1. Needs

The essential first step is to conduct a needs assessment. While the USDA’s annual food security survey provides essential baseline data, asking campus-specific questions that reflect unique student and staff demographics is critical.⁹ This detailed analysis will lead to decisions about the following:

• Physical footprint and space requirements
• Resource allocation
• Most-needed food items
• Hours of operation
• Staffing needs
• Cultural preferences
• Dietary restrictions

2. Budget

Start by mapping startup costs and creating a robust funding strategy.

3. Timing

Create a comprehensive timeline that allows for any unexpected hiccups.

4. Build Your Support Network

Success comes through collaboration. Learn from existing models and build strategic partnerships with:

• On-Campus Partners
• Campus Community Garden
• Student Organizations
• Creative Partnerships

Smart Lockers: A Discreet Solution for Campus Food Security

While many colleges already utilize smart lockers for package management, savvy institutions are now expanding their role to combat campus hunger through dignified food distribution.

From Mail Management to Meal Access

Smart lockers are evolving beyond traditional package delivery to serve as a critical link in campus food security. Take Bunker Hill Community College’s DISH Food Program Pantry, which leverages Parcel Pending by Quadient refrigerated lockers. The statistics are impressive:

• 2,078 successful pickups in 2022
• 1,690 collections from DISH & Dash lockers
• Nearly 500 students served
• 24/7 accessible food assistance

Breaking Barriers to Student Success

Food insecurity silently undermines academic achievement, student retention, and overall well-being. Smart lockers offer a solution by:

• Providing discreet access through a self-service solution with private access codes
• Eliminating stigma associated with food assistance by allowing collection at students’ convenience – even outside traditional business hours
• Enabling convenient pick-up on-campus between classes, study sessions, or library visits

Strategic Implementation

Universities can maximize impact by installing lockers near dining services, placing units alongside existing vending machines, or integrating them with existing food bank services. By creating multiple access points across campus, institutions can provide both food and flexibility in a way that meets students’ busy schedules.

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Unfortunately, food insecurity on campus is a challenge not expected to go away anytime soon. Experts predict that pressure on food prices will continue to rise, impacting even more students. Implementing innovative solutions such as food pantries and leveraging smart lockers allow your institution to be forward-thinking in creating dignified and easy access for your students, staff, and faculty.

Ready to deliver more access to food for campus community members in need? Speak to a Parcel Pending representative today about how our smart locker solutions can help.

Sources:

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Food Security in the U.S.: Key Statistics and Graphics. www.ers.usda.gov. September 4, 2024. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/key-statistics-graphics/
2. The Hope Center. The Hope Center Survey 2021: Basic Needs Insecurity During the Ongoing Pandemic. hope.temple.edu. March 31, 2021. https://hope.temple.edu/research/hope-center-basic-needs-survey
3. Savage, Jess. More college students are struggling to get enough food. What colleges are doing about it. www.kcur.org. September 30, 2024. https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-09-30/college-students-food-insecurity
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Dinour, L., deCarvalho, F., & Escobar, K. A food pantry can help support your campus through the cost-of-living crisis. www.timeshighereducation.com. February 19, 2024. https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/food-pantry-can-help-support-your-campus-through-costofliving-crisis
7. Sequeira, Robbie. Campus food pantries are seeing greater demand – and more state dollars. stateline.org. August 30, 2023. https://stateline.org/2023/08/30/campus-food-pantries-are-seeing-greater-demand-and-more-state-dollars/
8. Ibid.
9. U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service. Food Security in the U.S.: Survey Tools. www.ers.usda.gov. September 4, 2024. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/survey-tools/#household