Centenary University was recently awarded a $27,500 grant from the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) to combat food insecurity among students on campus.
The university is one of 36 institutions of higher education across the state to share in $1.2 million in Hunger-Free Campus Act funding, which supports campus-based resources including food pantries and outreach connecting students with programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
“Too often, the serious problem of food insecurity on college campuses goes unseen,” said Centenary University Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Administration Kerry Mullins. “Students facing housing instability may also struggle just to get enough to eat — a hardship that can derail academic success and graduation.
“Some of these students stay on campus through vacations or over the summer when dining halls are closed, relying on resources like our campus food pantry for daily nourishment. As an institution committed to student well-being and success, Centenary ensures that every student’s basic needs — food, shelter, and dignity — are met.”
This year’s funding will support initiatives organized through Centenary’s Hunger Free Task Force, a campus organization aimed at eradicating food insecurity within the university community. A portion of the grant funding will be used to hire a resource coordinator/case manager to assist students in navigating available social services.
This includes the on-campus Cyclone Kitchen and the Swipe Out Hunger Program, which provides confidential meal swipes in the student cafeteria through the university’s food service provider, Sodexo. The Cyclone Kitchen is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In addition, the resource coordinator/case manager will connect students with community-based resources including SNAP, WIC (Women, Infants, & Children), and related assistance programs such as area food banks.
A free courtesy bus — also funded through the grant — is available to drive students to SNAP-participating retailers in Hackettstown including Target, Walmart, Wawa, QuickChek, CVS, Shop Rite, and Weis. This bus is available throughout the school year, including during academic breaks when campus dining options may be limited.
