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More than 529,000 students are enrolled in colleges across Virginia, but for many, earning a degree comes with more than just academic challenges. At least 1 in 4 students struggle with food insecurity.
While more than 30 on-campus pantries have opened statewide, together we can do even more to ensure every student has the support they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Here are five ways colleges and food banks can work together:
- Food Distribution Partnerships:
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- Establish an on-campus food pantry with free or low-cost groceries from food banks.
- Schedule a Mobile Food Pantry for students who may not be able to access a pantry.
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- Student Volunteer & Intership Programs:
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- Encourage students to volunteer at food banks, gaining hands-on experience in logistics, community service, and social work.
- Offer food bank internships for students in marketing, nutrition, or research.
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- Awareness Campaigns & Food Drives:
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- Collaborate on hunger awareness events and campus-wide food drives.
- Host an annual Hunger Awareness Week with a campus-wide donation challenge to
increase engagement.
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- Meal Swipe Donation Programs:
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- Donate extra campus meal plan swipes to fellow students in need.
- Engage the food banks to ensure donated meals reach food-insecure students.
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- Grant & Funding Collaboration:
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- Submit joint funding requests to support initiatives like pantries or needs assessments.
- Partner with local businesses and alumni donors for financial and in-kind contributions.
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