Centenary University was recently awarded a $37,500 Hunger-Free Campus grant from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to fund expansion of the University food pantry and outreach to connect students with other vital services.
“Centenary University recognizes that a student’s basic needs must be met for them to thrive,” Vice President for Campus Life and Dean of Students Kerry Mullins said. “It is vital that we raise awareness of existing resources and support available to students, while maintaining their privacy and dignity. Often, students who are housing insecure remain on campus through breaks and over the summer. At these times, when the campus cafeteria is closed the Cyclone Kitchen is their main source of food.”
Food insecurity is a growing problem on college campuses across the nation. According to The Hope Center, a Temple University think-tank that studies basic student needs, three in five college students don’t have enough to eat or a stable place to live, with millions experiencing basic needs insecurity, including inadequate food, housing, health care, transportation, childcare, and internet access.
An initial OSHE Hunger-Free Campus grant in 2023 enabled Centenary to relocate and significantly expand its Cyclone Kitchen from a single shelf of canned goods to a fully stocked kitchen of non-perishable items, as well as healthy options such as fresh fruits and vegetables.
This year’s grant enables the food pantry to add toiletries, feminine hygiene products, cleaning supplies, loaner cooking implements—including microwaves, pots, and pans—paper products, and school supplies.
The Cyclone Kitchen is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition, the Swipe Out Hunger program, offered in partnership with Sodexo, provides free meal swipes in the Centenary cafeteria for students who self-identify as food insecure based on USDA guidelines.
Last month, the University’s Hunger-Free Task Force marked National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week with a series of programs to educate students about available services on campus, as well as external programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children). At Centenary, a resource coordinator case manager funded through the grant assists students in applying for SNAP, WIC, and other programs.
Centenary also offers a weekend shuttle to local stores that participate in SNAP.
“Centenary University remains steadfast in its commitment to this crucial initiative, understanding its profound impact on student success and well-being,” President Dale Caldwell, said. “Recently, the University was recognized as a FirstGen Forward Network member for our commitment to improving the well-being and success of first-generation college students. Many in this population are particularly vulnerable to food and housing insecurity. This Hunger-Free Campus grant provides significant support to ensure the sustainability of Centenary’s efforts to combat food insecurity on campus.”
While the University hopes its efforts will lead to official designation as a Hunger-Free Campus, Dean of Student Success Kathleen Greco said there is a deeper goal:
“This is about much more than earning a title. These coordinated efforts reinforce and emphasize that every student’s well-being and needs are valued and supported throughout the campus community,” she said.
