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King’s Awarded Second $20,000 PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant to Fight Food Insecurity on Campus
King’s College today announced that it has earned a second $20,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education under the 2024-2025 PA Hunger-Free Campus program, which supports colleges and universities working to address student food insecurity.
The College used the previous year’s grant to more than double student visits to its dedicated food pantry and five satellite “grab and go” stations throughout campus. The improved resources helped the College better promote related services to its community, secure fresh produce from local farmers through the Food Dignity Movement, and connect with local food banks that provide free non-perishable foods.
However, related events such as “Fresh Produce Mondays” frequently run out of food within hours, indicating that more students can be served with additional enhancements to the program. Organizers are also concerned that perceived social stigmas related to food insecurity still prevent many students from exploring these resources.
“We anticipate that this new investment will significantly expand our reach to students who could use additional support, including commuter and nontraditional students who face difficulty accessing food services during the day,” said Bill Bolan, Ph.D., director of the College’s Shoval Center for Community Engagement and Learning. “Alternative resources to alleviate food insecurity, such as gift cards to local supermarkets and vouchers with our dining services providers, will go a long way to making sure these students are not left behind.”
Other planned improvements include providing fresh and nonperishable food for college employees who may be experiencing food insecurity and expanding the College’s relationship with local food banks to lessen reliance on grant funds in the future.
These efforts are supervised by the King's Food Assistance Advisory Group, a team of staff, faculty, and students who regularly monitor food access programs on campus and the local community.
The College used the previous year’s grant to more than double student visits to its dedicated food pantry and five satellite “grab and go” stations throughout campus. The improved resources helped the College better promote related services to its community, secure fresh produce from local farmers through the Food Dignity Movement, and connect with local food banks that provide free non-perishable foods.
However, related events such as “Fresh Produce Mondays” frequently run out of food within hours, indicating that more students can be served with additional enhancements to the program. Organizers are also concerned that perceived social stigmas related to food insecurity still prevent many students from exploring these resources.
“We anticipate that this new investment will significantly expand our reach to students who could use additional support, including commuter and nontraditional students who face difficulty accessing food services during the day,” said Bill Bolan, Ph.D., director of the College’s Shoval Center for Community Engagement and Learning. “Alternative resources to alleviate food insecurity, such as gift cards to local supermarkets and vouchers with our dining services providers, will go a long way to making sure these students are not left behind.”
Other planned improvements include providing fresh and nonperishable food for college employees who may be experiencing food insecurity and expanding the College’s relationship with local food banks to lessen reliance on grant funds in the future.
These efforts are supervised by the King's Food Assistance Advisory Group, a team of staff, faculty, and students who regularly monitor food access programs on campus and the local community.
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