Study Shows College Students Facing Significant Challenges
Long Beach State University’s annual Feed a Need Spring Drive, a program that gives students with meal plans the chance to donate meals to food-insecure students, concluded this past weekend with 1,005 meals raised. The total represents approximately 40 percent of the campus’ residential students donating to their peers.
“What a great affirmation of caring,” President Jane Close Conoley said. “I am inspired by the kindness our students exhibit for one another, thus, I am not surprised by the results of this effort. Our students know that the challenges of balancing studies, work and home are difficult enough without having to deal with food insecurity. I am proud of their decision to make a difference for their fellow students. Beach students rock.”
“With the Forty-Niner Shops’ donation included, we will have 1,305 meals available for students in need,” Vice President for Student Affairs Carmen Taylor said. “I am always impressed by the generosity and spirit of our students. Their willingness to help their fellow students in need is truly admirable. We are one family here at the Beach.”
The results of the Feed a Need drive were announced just as the California State University Office of the Chancellor released a study conducted by Dr. Rashida Crutchfield of Long Beach State University and Dr. Jennifer Maguire of Humboldt State University. Their research, which focused on “homelessness, low and very low food security” among students on the 23 California State University campuses, found that 41.6 percent of CSU students and 37.7 percent of Long Beach State University students reported food insecurity, respectively.
The study – the second phase of the CSU’s examination of food and housing security/basic needs – was part of a systemwide report presented this week at Sacramento State University.
In March 2015, CSULB implemented its Basic Needs Initiative – a campuswide program with targeted services to address housing and food insecurity among students. The services include ASI Beach Pantry, whichhas perishable and non-perishable food items, toiletries and school supplies available to all students; the CalFresh Outreach Program, the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Student Emergency Intervention and Wellness Program, which serves students experiencing an unforeseen emergency crisis situation who have exhausted all sources of assistance, and Beach Bites, a mobile app available for students with iOS or Android devices that alerts them to available food from on-campus catered events and meetings.
