Elaina, 32, a business administration and economics major at Kennedy-King College on Chicago’s South side, is fulfilling a childhood dream.
“I grew up in Englewood. As a child, I always dreamed of coming to school here. I have had family members who attended and graduated from here. I saw the impact their education had on the family,” she said.
When Elaina’s desire to study at Kennedy-King eventually came to fruition, it came with a few challenges. Like many college students, Elaina goes to school full-time and works a part-time job, all while raising her grade school-age daughter. Due to elevated food prices and limited time to make extra income, Elaina often struggles to afford food for herself and her daughter.
Elaina is grateful for the food pantry at Kennedy-King College, which helps her to feed her daughter.
She was grateful when she discovered Kennedy-King’s Healthy Food Market, one of the Food Depository’s partner pantries designed to alleviate food insecurity among college students.
“The market has been critical to me,” Elaina said.
Disparities among college students
Food insecurity among college students is a pervasive national issue. A study from the Department of Education reported that in the United States, 23 percent of undergraduates and 12 percent of graduate students experience food insecurity, affecting more than 4 million students. These numbers are disproportionately higher among Black and indigenous students, with nearly one in three undergraduate students identifying as food insecure.
Students at schools that primarily serve historically underrepresented populations experienced food insecurity at higher levels than other groups did. Among community colleges, the food insecurity rate was 23 percent, while public four-year institutions report 21 percent and private institutions 19 percent. For-profit colleges experience food insecurity rates at 33 percent, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) report 39 percent.
A student at Harold Washington College food pantry picks up some fresh produce (Photo by Alyssa Shukar).
Studies also reveal gender disparities, with female undergraduates reporting higher levels of food insecurity than male undergraduates. Students who are parents face even steeper challenges, experiencing notably higher rates of food insecurity than their non-parenting counterparts.
According to Dr. Allison Rose, the dean of student services at Kennedy-King College, undergraduate students in Chicago experience food insecurity at double the rate of all U.S. households.
“The Englewood community, where Kennedy-King College is located and where many of our students reside, has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in Chicago. Coupled with a lack of access to food, inflation and a decrease in food benefits, our students need options for support,” said Dr. Rose.
Healthy Student Market at Kennedy-King
The Food Depository partners with more than a dozen colleges throughout Chicago and Cook County to offer pantries on campus, like Kennedy-King’s Healthy Food Market. Since its inception in 2018, the pantry has been a lifeline for students, offering a variety of fresh produce, dairy items, protein and frozen foods. Their twice weekly distributions serve roughly 75 students every week.
For students like Elaina, the pantry has been life changing. "I appreciate being able to focus on my family and school," she said.
"The biggest difference it has made in my life is being able to feed my daughter when I wasn’t able to."
Dr. Rose highlights the broader impact of campus pantries. "It’s really more than just food. When our students don’t have a meal to fuel their bodies, they cannot be focused on their academics to learn. The fallout from poor nutrition can be psychological, mental and physical. It impacts families, neighborhoods and can be generational,” she said.
"This market creates hope, lessens worry and increases our student engagement. Every student should have the resources they need to achieve and thrive."
Making change through advocacy
While hunger on college campuses is a growing problem, most college students are not eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits unless they work at least 20 hours per week or have a young child. During the pandemic, eligibility rules were temporarily changed to allow more students to access SNAP.
The Food Depository is working to ensure college students have access to food by advocating for the Enhance Access to SNAP (EATS) Act at the federal level. This bill would permanently eliminate SNAP eligibility restrictions for college students who otherwise qualify for the program.
Bryan Jones, a volunteer at Harold Washington City college food pantry, helps students get the food they need on campus (Photo by Alyssa Shukar).
The Food Depository is also advocating for changes Illinois can make at the state level, including legislation to streamline and expand access to SNAP for eligible students at public colleges and universities.
Ensuring equitable food access is central to the Food Depository’s mission. We believe no one should have to choose between pursuing their education and meeting their basic needs. By supporting policy change at the federal and state levels and partnering with colleges, we are working to remove barriers to food security so that every student has the nourishment they need to thrive.
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