Tag Archives: Food Insecurity

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Food Insecure in the Garden State

By: Zion Lee

In 2020, America’s Health Rankings United Health Foundation reported that New Jersey was the third most food insecure state in the U.S. preceded by New Hampshire and Hawaii. Such disparity presented by the data is concerning as, despite New Jersey being reported as amongst the top three richest states in the U.S., a portion of its population is struggling with food insecurity. Food insecurity, lacking the ability to financially access food resources, is a major concern that has a widespread impact. Not only does food insecurity affect the basic needs of those affected, but many individuals will see an increase in risk for food insecurity. Food insecurity does not discriminate as those who are living below or above the poverty line and who are impacted by specific environmental conditions such as where individuals were born, live, work, and learn, factors known as social determinants, are all susceptible to the issue.

 This inequity must be addressed as obtaining one’s daily nutritional requirements is imperative to not only maintaining physical health, but also cognitive health as supported by the CDC. While food insecurity deals with food and hunger, there are other factors that can contribute and be exacerbated by food insecurity, including health and quality of life. The basic needs of individuals must be met in order to increase the quality of life and provide them with the time and ability to address the complexities of life such as maintaining a job, supporting ones’ family, enriching ones’ social life, and prevent serious debilitating medical issues that can lead to further complications as food insecurity prevails.

If you or someone you know is impacted by food insecurity in Mercer County, The Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (72 Escher St, Trenton, NJ 08609),  Arm in Arm (123 E Hanover St, Trenton, NJ 08608), and various other sites in The Streetlight Resource Guide are able to help provide you with resources and food.  Together, we can work towards ensuring food security.  

Source Link: https://hungerandhealth.feedingamerica.org/understand-food-insecurity/

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The Pantry at Mercer County Community College

By: Hannah Keyes

The Pantry located at the Trenton campus of Mercer County Community College has been working to serve food insecure college students since opening in late 2019. The motivation for the creation of The Pantry has been the passion to combat the growing hunger problem seen on many college campuses including 

The mission statement of The Pantry is “to alleviate the barriers and challenges associated with food insecurity and hunger so that Mercer’s students can remain in school and, ultimately, earn their degrees.” Education is often seen as the main avenue to improving the quality of life for those who have grown up below the poverty line. However, the stressors associated with food insecurity can affect student success in many ways. Stressors such as money, grades, motivation, the capability to pay attention, and to balance school, work, and personal life can prove to be extraordinarily difficult. In the end, such factors can affect how long it takes for someone to obtain their degree. After all, the more time one spends in school, the more money they have to pay: debt being yet another obstacle in the way of improving one’s quality of life that would compound on top of being food insecure. Every year college education costs increase and students are forced to live on a hardly liveable budget. 

According to College & University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA) 30% of college students are food insecure and 56% of food-insecure students are working. In a food access survey of 50 MCCC students, half said that they had gone hungry because they didn’t have money for food and 41% said they had qualified for state or federal food assistance programs. The COVID-19 pandemic has further worsened the issues for these college students. The Pantry at MCCC has taken steps to try to best address this issue and help their students. They encourage students to check their eligibility for food assistance through New Jersey’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP is a federal program that can help individuals and families with low incomes buy the groceries they need to eat healthily. 

The Pantry is working to help students as much as possible through its food distribution. According to an article from the MCCC school newspaper, The VOICE, MCCC student, Jennifer Famularo, who had received help through the food pantry said, “when times were rough, the college was able to provide some food so I could continue to study.” 

The Pantry is located on the James Kerney Campus in room KC403. It is open Monday–Thursday 10:00 am–3:00 pm during the fall and spring semesters of college operations. To contact The Pantry, send an email to foodpantry@mccc.edu. If you are not an MCCC student but still need access to food, The Pantry offers a listing of local food sources here. The MCCC Pantry is always looking for donations, please use this link to donate

 

News

College Opens Innovative Food Pantry in Ewing Township

Editor’s Note: Last winter, The Streetlight reported that a food pantry was in the works for The College of New Jersey. In the time since, the facility has opened its doors.

By Hannah Keyes and Brie Wells

The SHOP @ TCNJ is not the typical shopping destination for most college students, but for many, it provides resources needed to get through the week.

Located at The College of New Jersey’s (TCNJ) Campus Town in Ewing Township, The SHOP is a food pantry that provides resources to those who may be experiencing food insecurity. The SHOP offers many different resources such as canned goods, hygiene products, some clothing items, microwavable meals, bottled water, feminine care products, fruits, grains, and vegetables. The SHOP also offers vegetarian and gluten free products for those who may have other dietary concerns.

It is open not only to college students, but also to faculty and general community members who may be in need. There are no questions asked.

Alana Adams, the College Enhancement Intern for The SHOP, mentioned that “food insecurity impacts nearly 40% of college students nationwide, so there should be no shame associated with utilizing the resources your campus or community provides.”

However, there is often a negative preconceived notion surrounding the use of a food pantry and seeking help.

“We don’t know what you’re going through, but we are here to support you in the best way that we can. We want to have an experience with you. We want to provide a welcoming, comforting, inclusive, and safe environment where you are seen as a person,” emphasized AmeriCorps member and TCNJ Garden and Food Security program assistant Horacio Hernandez.

TCNJ students in Mercer County are the catalysts that brought light to the situation that many members of the community face everyday. The inception of The SHOP began when concerned students asked for referrals or file requests to provide emergency aid to those struggling to eat constantly or to find adequate housing. This need became especially apparent during extended school breaks.

“TCNJ has a Student Emergency Fund, which students can apply and receive limited funding for temporary housing or food. With the help of other organizations, the Dean of Students Office launched the SHOP in February 2019, which serves as a more long-term solution to students in need, where they can receive food and other supplies on a weekly basis,” Adams added.

The building space that The SHOP occupies was offered by the chief of TCNJ’s Campus Police and allowed for everything to officially get started.

In order to support the surrounding communities, The SHOP works in conjunction with Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, TCNJ Student and Academic Affairs, and TCNJ Campus Police. According to the Program Associate of the Adult Hunger Programs at Mercer Street Friends Food Bank, Pamela Sims Jones, “The Food Bank is here to support The SHOP with non-perishable and perishable commodities as needed so that The SHOP can continue to support the TCNJ community members who may be food insecure.”

With the aid of Mercer Street Friends Food Bank and the rest of their partners, The SHOP hopes to be able to provide resources to those who do not have access to food and to help end the stigma surrounding asking for help. In the future The SHOP not only wants to provide basic necessities but to also give additional support for various aspects of life.

Donations and offered help are always accepted and valued by The SHOP. Recently there was a Greek Life food drive competition to see which Greek organization could donate the most food to The SHOP.

There are many additions that The SHOP hopes to add services as time goes on, such as extra training for staff members, more partnerships with other organizations, the ability to provide hot meals, and the list goes on. The SHOP has a lot in store for the future.