Graduate Students and Administrators Rally for $2 Million to Combat Campus Hunger
Graduate Students Rally for Hunger-Free Campuses in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, a team of graduate students and administrators is banding together to tackle the problem of hunger on campuses. They are asking state lawmakers for $2 million to support the Hunger Free Campus Initiative. This money would go towards funding programs that are already helping many low-income students across 27 college campuses in the state.
Sean Simonini, who is part of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Students highlighted the importance of addressing food insecurity among students. He explained that when students are hungry, it is hard for them to focus on their studies. Simonini stressed that nearly 40% of college students in Massachusetts faced food insecurity in 2019 a number that likely went up due to the pandemic.
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Graduate Students Advocate for Legislative Support to Combat Campus Hunger (PHOTO: Public News Service)
Investment in Food Security: Ensuring Students Can Thrive Academically
Simonini emphasized that investing in programs to reduce food insecurity is not just about helping students eat it is about investing in the future workforce of the state. He proposed using the funds to improve access to benefits like SNAP and WIC enhance campus food pantries and set up donation systems for meals. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that students can focus on their education without worrying about where their next meal will come from.
