Making Change: Campus Food Ins...

Making Change: Campus Food Insecurity

February 24, 2025

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An estimated 23% of college students face food insecurity each year. Please read below to learn more about what it means to be food insecure, and how Worcester State is helping to support its campus community with Thea’s Pantry.

What is Food Insecurity?

Food insecurity is an issue not limited to college students as it is something many Americans face. Food insecurity means not having consistent access to healthy, safe, and culturally appropriate foods to meet nutritional needs due to a lack of money and other resources.

While the percentage of households in the United States facing food insecurity sits around 12.8%, the percentage of college students facing food insecurity is much higher. The United States Government Accountability Office has confirmed that food insecurity among college students is around 30%.

Many universities report that growing numbers of their student population are facing some form of food insecurity. Average working college students report not making enough money and living on a budget. Many people assume college students have easy and affordable access to food while on campus, but this is inaccurate. Not having access to sufficient food has been proven to lead to lower academic performance and a higher risk of diet-related health issues.

The WSU campus provides many dining options, but sometimes that is not enough for all students. Thea’s Pantry, the on-campus food pantry, provides support to those WSU community members who need additional access to affordable, nutrient-dense foods that meet their dietary needs.

What Causes Food Insecurity for College Students?

Some of the main causes of food insecurity for college students include:

Changes in student populations at the university level
Increasing expense of college education
Grants and financial aid have gotten weaker and harder to acquire
College costs cannot be covered by working a single job
Federal funds available to colleges have decreased

Many of these reasons are due to federal and economic changes throughout the United States. The result of this is there is no longer only a small number of students affected by food insecurity; many students varying in demographics have been hit with the need to address hunger insecurity for themselves or their fellow students.

Thea Aschkenase, ’07

What is WSU Doing to Combat Food Insecurity?

Thea’s pantry opened in 2019 and has been successfully serving Worcester State students while growing to support the multiple needs of our student population. The pantry is named after Thea Aschkenase, a 2007 alumna of Worcester State University who was a life-long advocate against hunger. Aschkenase was a Holocaust survivor who was liberated from the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945. In addition to being a voice of remembrance of the Holocaust, she also made it her mission to help others, and her legacy lives on through the pantry’s growing services. In addition to food, students can access a wide range of hygiene products, cleaning supplies, and school supplies.

A Confidential Service

Unfortunately, hunger insecurity has been stigmatized even though the need for services such as Thea’s pantry has become more necessary. At Worcester State, we are committed to supporting the many needs that promote a student’s well-being without shame.

Thea’s pantry promotes discretion for all users. The pantry staff does not collect or share identifying information and the pantry is located in a low-traffic area accessible to all students. Thea’s Pantry is open Monday through Friday throughout the day and after business hours to meet the needs of community members who are on campus at different times, and the staff is committed to providing a comfortable service to all who stop by.

How Can You Help?

A few ways to support Thea’s pantry include:

Giving on-site donations during pantry hours
Purchasing needed items off the pantry’s Amazon Wishlist
Hosting a food drive
Sponsoring a shelf in the pantry
Signing up for Thea’s Pantry newsletter

Visit the Thea’s Pantry website or follow along at @wsu_theaspantry for more information on offerings, hours, and ways to support. You can also reach out via email to theaspantry@worcester.edu with questions.

More Resources to help hunger insecurity in our community

WSU provides several resources on campus to support student well-being and has information on off-campus resources to support different populations and needs. Visit our Food Assistance Resources page to find food banks and learn more about the resources listed below.

On-Campus Resources

Community Resources

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