October 2026
When I started college as a first-generation college student in Missouri, nobody talked about hunger on college campuses. It may as well have not existed. And to be fair, none of my friends had the same struggles and concerns that I had. If they worked at all, it was for fun money, not to support themselves.
Despite working two part-time jobs while taking full-time classes, I could barely afford to pay my bills. The cost of rent, utilities and other necessities left me with little to nothing to spare. I lived in constant fear that one car repair, doctor’s visit or missed shift at work would pitch me into financial ruin. The last thing I could afford was a campus meal plan.
I did not have any knowledge of human or social services, but I learned about food stamps (now SNAP) in a class and wondered if I would qualify. Turns out that I did and the benefits I received were a complete game changer for me during a time when I desperately needed the support.
Unfortunately, this is a growing reality for today’s college students. In Colorado, nearly one in four students struggles with food insecurity.
Having this lived experience, I’m proud to share that the Food Bank is working hard to end hunger on college campuses so that students can focus on education not where their next meal will come from. For years, we’ve partnered with Colorado State University and Front Range Community College. In the last year alone, we’ve distributed 273,000 pounds of food to these partners. This provides the resources for both colleges’ on-campus food pantries. As a result, students, staff and faculty can get free, nutritious food whenever they need it.
This means excelling in the classroom and beyond, without having to worry about spending money on food. Illustrating this need, CSU’s Rams Against Hunger pantry had more than 15,000 visits in the last school year, with FRCC providing resources to 2,600 individuals through its Wolves Overcoming Lack of Food pantry.
Both colleges also distribute food through mobiles markets — pop-up free food distribution in a centralized location that helps to make the resource visible. A big part of these mobile markets is also the chance to provide basic information about the regular hours of the on-campus food pantry.
The Food Bank also wants college students to be aware that they may be eligible for SNAP benefits. Our outreach team frequently tables at each of these colleges to connect with students and spread the word about receiving assistance from this federal nutrition program while going to school.
This month, the Food Bank will be working with CSU for the annual CANS Around the Oval food drive. Our local schools compete to raise the most shelf-stable food to support the Rams Against Hunger pantry. The drive culminates Oct. 14 with donations being brought to CSU’s Oval.
In addition to fighting hunger on college campuses, we also fight stigma by talking about the issues. I don’t think I’d be where I am today if I hadn’t been able to access food stamps because the stress of not having enough money was all-encompassing. When I should have been studying, I was worried I should be taking another shift at work. A big part of our work is partnership and determining how we can collaborate to meet people where they are to get the food they need. When students don’t have to spend their energy worrying about where their next meal will come from, they can spend that energy building the future they came to college to create.
