Instead of worrying about problems such as classes or graduating on time, some students face problems with finding their next meal. One in three students at Rutgers faces hunger, according to a Daily Targum article published in February. To assist students struggling with food insecurity, the Rutgers Division of Student Affairs created the No Hungry Knights Initiative scholarship in 2020, which provides recipients with partial or full meal plans, with just under 40 students receiving the scholarship.
According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture, in 2021, 33.8 million people in the country suffer from a lack of food. In New Jersey, 7.4% of people suffer from food insecurity according to a report from the New Jersey State Health Assessment Data.
Rutgers also operates a Student Food Pantry at the College Avenue Student Center in room 115. Kerri Willson, Associate Dean of Students and Director of Off-Campus and Community Initiatives, at the pantry on campus said one of the biggest struggles of running the pantry is that students feel guilty asking for food and help, even during the pandemic. “[The] biggest struggle is dealing with the stigma students feel coming into a pantry and asking for help,” Willson said.
The pantry stayed open during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic but relocated to another space that allowed for social distancing while volunteers distributed pre-packed bags. The relocation led to more students going there due to the new location and offerings.
Some students are more inclined to go to the 5 Loaves Food Pantry, which is located off campus and provides more anonymity. Reverend Douglas Shepler, who operates the pantry, said he plans to start a free lunch program in November using leftover food from the campus’s dining hall.
Shepler said that the pandemic created additional challenges for the pantry. There were fewer student volunteers and community service workers to package and distribute food. At one point, the pantry only had one or two volunteers each time it opened in comparison to the three that they would normally have before COVID, being the director, an intern, and a community volunteer.
For providing to so many members of their respective communities, food pantries face many struggles and hurdles. In order to fulfill the purpose of providing food, pantries have to overcome challenges like a lack of funds, legislation changes, and the lingering effects of COVID-19.
At the Highland Park Food Pantry in Highland Park, New Jersey, chairwoman Janice Ballou said the program also had to switch to pre-bagged food instead of allowing clients to come and pick up their food. This resulted in many clients having extra food like rice that would go to waste because they couldn’t select their own items. Ballou also said the state ban on plastic bags made distributing the food much more difficult. Her pantry was donated 500 paper bags when the ban started, and is not sure how much these bags will cost in the future. She also encourages clients to return paper bags that they receive, and that the pantry is receiving donations of reusable bags as well.
Food pantries also get some help from powers above them, such as from their town or even the federal government. Willson’s pantry received a grant from Highland Park to help run the pantry. She said the grant helped the pantry “improve efficiencies and connect with others on campus” to address the issue of student hunger.
Democratic control of both state and federal government has helped food pantries by providing additional funds, Shepler said, but Republicans cut funds for food pantries. 5 Loaves was able to apply for county, state, and federal grants during COVID-19 and earned tens of thousands of dollars for his food pantry.
Local agencies also provide crucial support for food pantries in New Brunswick. The Borough of Highland Park provides Ballou’s pantry with a room and space to pack and store their food, as well as paying a social worker to help pack and give out food.
There are numerous ways for the public to help with various food pantries. Ballou echoed that any donations are more than welcome.
Students can spread the word about pantries, Willson suggested, and could coordinate food drives of their own. Students who may know others in need should try to normalize asking for help from a food pantry, she added. Everyone deserves to eat, no matter their financial or social status.
Volunteering at a local pantry or donating any food or clothing can make a big difference, Shepler said. “We have a very sick social system,” he said. “I don’t remember as a young boy hearing about food pantries. It’s almost a given now.”
