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As if cramming for finals, writing last-minute term papers and dealing with college life, in general, wasn't difficult enough, having to worry about not having enough to eat shouldn't be something that college students have to think about. Unfortunately, though, hunger amongst college students is a problem and a growing one at many campuses around Maine. This past December, University CU put the focus squarely on food insecurity on Maine campuses and sought to raise support for the five University of Maine System (UMS)-based campus food pantries.
(At left, Beth Beaudoin, second from right and UCU Farmington branch manager, makes a contribution to the food pantry at the University of Maine at Farmington, one of five on-campus food pantries in the UMaine System. Also pictured are (l-r) students Alexis Saulnier, Kaeley Stewart, Kaylee Bilodeau; and Luke Kellett, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Sustainability Coordinator, UMF.)
Feeding America, a national network of food banks which studies food insecurity, found that 49.3 percent of its clients in college reported having to choose between food and educational expenses (e.g. books, tuition, rent). While the total need among all Maine students is not known, there are many who are already receiving assistance from these locations.
"No student should ever be faced with choosing between food and their education,” said UCU President and CEO Matthew Walsh. “As the only financial institution in Maine chartered to serve the University of Maine System, we feel it’s our duty to do what we can to raise awareness of food insecurity among students and to help end hunger on campuses by ensuring these food pantries have the resources to continue to serve the many people who rely on them."
At the end of December, The Ending Hunger Campaus initiative raised thousands for student hunger and made contributions to the following on-campus pantries:
- Thrifty Beaver Co-op at the University of Maine at Farmington; assists 15 people per week
- The Black Bear Exchange at the University of Maine in Orono; assists 20 people per week
- Bengal’s Outreach Food Pantry at the University of Maine at Fort Kent; assists 25 people per month
- Emergency Food Pantry at the University of Maine at Presque Isle; opened in September 2017
- The Well at the University of Southern Maine; assists 20 people per day
"These pantries, however large or small, can mean the difference between a student leaving college due to financial reasons, and that student successfully completing their degree and achieving their goals," added Walsh.