Advocate Penn State’s Post

Breaking the Silence: Shedding Light on Food Insecurity at George Mason University Dear LinkedIn Community, In the heart of George Mason University lies a silent struggle that demands our attention: food insecurity among students. As a vibrant institution committed to fostering academic excellence and holistic student well-being, it's crucial that we address this pressing issue head-on. The Patriot Pantry, a vital resource for students facing food insecurity, remains relatively unknown, while the rate of students grappling with hunger continues to rise. Key Message Strategies: 1. Awareness: Our primary goal is to shine a spotlight on the prevalence of food insecurity on our campus. By raising awareness, we aim to break the stigma surrounding this issue and encourage open dialogue. 2. Accessibility: The Patriot Pantry stands as a beacon of hope for students in need. Through this campaign, we strive to make the pantry more accessible and well-known to those who may benefit from its services. 3. Community Support: We believe that addressing food insecurity is a collective responsibility. By rallying the support of our community, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students. Call to Action: Join us in our mission to combat food insecurity at George Mason University. Together, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of our fellow Patriots. Visit https://lnkd.in/eqZKQEj9 to learn more about the Patriot Pantry and discover how you can get involved. As members of the George Mason University community, it is incumbent upon us to stand in solidarity with our peers facing food insecurity. Let's work together to ensure that every student has access to the nourishment they need to thrive academically and personally. Sincerely, Mason Food Security ssac@gmu.edu

Food insecurity, which the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines as “a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food,” is an important public health problem and an underrecognized social determinant of health. It places a substantial burden on our society through health care and social costs. People experiencing food insecurity often consume a nutrient-poor diet, which may contribute to the development of obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. People who live in food-insecure households also have difficulties in managing diet-related chronic conditions. For ECU students experiencing food insecurity, the Williams-Ross Purple Pantry is an invaluable resource. #ecu #foodinsecurity #foodpantry #highereducation

Food Insecurity is a significant factor in student absenteeism For the first time in at least 50 years, a majority of U.S. public school students are from low-income families. 51% of students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade were eligible for the federal program that provides FREE and REDUCED-PRICE lunches. This lunch program is a rough proxy for poverty but the explosion of needy children in the nation’s classrooms is a recent phenomenon that has been gaining attention among educators, public officials, and social researchers. Even in wealthy Sarasota County, 52% of children were eligible for FREE LUNCHES-an an indicator of food insecurity at home meaning that they don’t have consistent access to sufficient quantities of affordable, nutritious food. Our Club in partnership with AAll Faiths Food Bank decided that we should help in alleviating this problem. In 2015 our Club/Foundation awarded AFFB a $60,000 five (5) year grant to place food pantries in all Title 1 schools in Sarasota County Schools We also committed to operating these pantries where needed. These school-based pantries are located on the school campus, making them a more readily accessible source of food assistance to families in need. They also try to be open at convenient school times so families can shop when arriving at school to pick up their children. So far, there are thirteen (13) school-based pantries in the program. Seven (7) of these are Title 1 schools. The top three (3) are Emma E Booker Elementary, Altavista Elementary School and Tuttle Elementary with Almost 95%, 92%, and 91% respectively of their students on FREE or REDUCED-PRICE lunches. The school district also provides FREE breakfasts to these schools. The Alta Vista Food Pantry was every other Thursday from 2:30pm-6pm excepting school breaks. We packed out food items for 60 families 2:30-3:30 and distribute from 3:30-6:00. During Holidays, we run Turkey Pantry, that operate like a regular Pantry, plus we would pack 125 Turkeys and Thanksgiving meal kits. #givingchallenge2024 #foodpantry #endinghunger #rotary #rotaryclubofsarasotafoundation #SarasotaCountySchools #allfaithsfoodbank #AltavistaSchool

Support Sacramento State's new holiday tradition: ASI Food Pantry Friendsgiving Feast! Please take a moment to read their description below: The ASI Food Pantry is thrilled to introduce Friendsgiving Feast, a new initiative transforming our Thanksgiving Food Baskets into a warm and vibrant community gathering. This November, we’re creating a space for students to come together, enjoy a festive meal, and experience the true spirit of Thanksgiving. In addition, your support will help stock the ASI Food Pantry with holiday food essentials for students in need. Why Your Support Matters: The holiday season can be especially tough for students facing food insecurity. By supporting Friendsgiving Feast and the ASI Food Pantry holiday restock, you’re not only providing a meal – you’re helping create a memorable experience and fostering a welcoming, supportive environment on campus. Our Goal: Your generous contribution will help us: - Serve a high-quality, nutritious Thanksgiving meal for students - Provide a festive and welcoming atmosphere for students - Support students experiencing food insecurity during the holidays - Create lasting memories for our Sacramento State community #sacramentostate #csus #stingersup #madeatsacstate #foodinsecurity #studentneeds #basicneeds #holidays #Thanksgiving #collegefoodpantry #foodpantry

Great to see this: https://lnkd.in/g2wGtRtC More questions come to mind: - What is considered a nutritious meal? - How will these programs be staffed? - What is the food supply chain like for these programs? Interested to learn more. If folks want to help and volunteer, who do they reach out to and where and what kind of help is needed most? Devil is always in the details. Funding is great but operationalization is where the heavy lifting is.

📷 Share this to spread the word and help fellow students in need! Did you know any CUNY student can pick up food from any CUNY food pantry? With over 20+ campuses offering this support, no student should go hungry. Before heading to a pantry, make sure to check the hours on the CUNY website. Staying informed ensures you get the help you need when you need it. Remember, it's okay to ask for help. We're all in this together! #CUNY #FoodPantry #StayInformed

Important Update for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) This week only, the Cloudland Elementary School site will distribute meals on Friday, 07/05, instead of Thursday, to accommodate the July 4th holiday. Additionally, please note a policy update: Now, only parents or guardians need to be present to pick up meals. This change does not extend to other family members outside of designated parents/guardians. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! #SummerFoodService #FTHRA #CommunitySupport #HolidaySchedule #ImportantUpdate

Summer should be a time of joy and exploration for every child; however, it is often a tug-of-war for those experiencing food insecurity. When school is out of session, so are the free or reduced-price meals provided to nearly 25,000 children in the county. Our summer feeding program will distribute 5500 grocery boxes filled with kid-friendly food and nearly 20,000 heat & eat meals to help fill the gap for families when kids no longer have easy access to breakfast and lunch at school. Your support is crucial as we work to provide our kids the nutrition they need to keep growing and learning, even when school is not in session. Let's pull together, and beat summer hunger! https://lnkd.in/eNZrCuAp

Since when do we (so obviously) let down our enlisted families? — https://lnkd.in/ebScV2ZG “Reanna Van Dyke and her family moved to San Diego from Texas. Her husband is in the Navy… Nearly all of the students at Hancock Elementary [in San Diego] have a parent in the military… Now, the school has another way to support them: a food pantry… Military members’ housing allowance counts as income when applying for CalFresh [and therefore Military families require access to a food pantry since they don’t qualify for CalFresh].” 1️⃣, as a condition for federal dollars, no States’ or Locals’ hunger relief programs, like CalFresh, should count any type of Federal cost of living allowance as income, especially when that allowance is not taxed at the Federal level. We can use 2️⃣, there’s a few billionaires on LinkedIn. Yet the Food program needs less than $1M/yr, “A Feeding San Diego spokesperson said it costs about $30,000 to run a school pantry for a year. They’d need more than $670,000 each year to take the remaining schools off the waitlist.” I find it a little perplexing that DARPA can issue around $3M in awards for the Cornucopia Program but we can’t sustain enlisted families. Just a little, perplexing…”DARPA’s Cornucopia program aims to create a variety of healthy new microbial-based foods using three ingredients — air, water, and electricity—with minimal or no supplementation. If successful, troops one day could deploy with a transportable system that makes nourishing and appetizing food on demand in remote locations, obviating costly and brittle food supply chains.” — https://lnkd.in/eHmkji2D

Did you know that one in five children in the U.S. experience food insecurity? For kids that rely on free or reduced-priced meals at school, summer can mean a lack of access to nutritious food. That’s why we’ve joined Albertsons Companies Foundation’s first-of-its-kind coalition of food banks/food pantries, school districts, community organizations, and other partners across the country to help tackle hunger. Check if your household qualifies for $120 for groceries per eligible child through USDA’s new, permanent Summer EBT program at SummerEBT.org