Food insecurity (being able to consistently access or have enough food) on college campuses has been a hot topic in the news and in research studies. This is for good reason- recent estimates from a 2017 study from the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggest that food insecurity is high among college students; approximately 35% of students struggled with having adequate and nutritious food. Because we know that Baylor graduate students are no exception, the Graduate Student Association (GSA) sought to find out what our students could do to address their own food insecurity or provide for others on campus.
Members of the GSA policy committee recently met with the Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) team and Baylor Student Success Initiatives (SSI) to discuss resources for graduate students battling food insecurity on campus. The dialogue centered around how THI and Baylor SSI could best serve the graduate student body, which is distinct from the large undergraduate population at Baylor. The GSA believes that the first and most crucial step is a strong partnership with these two organizations. Additionally, it is important that we regularly disseminate information that is beneficial to graduate students yet gets the message across in a concise manner (we don’t have time to read much beyond our scholarly work!). It is clear, based on the most recent resource utilization statistics, that few graduate students are aware of the assistance we have here on campus.
As graduate students, it is important to know that we have access to many of the built-in safety nets that are offered by Baylor and nationwide. The first of which is a free food pantry known as The Store housed in the SSI office in the Sid Richardson building (East wing, lower level, room 047) where graduate and undergraduate students can swipe in to anonymously access free food items and toiletries Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Currently, it is estimated that less than 5% of the individuals utilizing the store are graduate students. This is likely due to a lack of information rather than a lack of need. In addition to The Store, Baylor SSI offers free guidance and consultation for individuals seeking information regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). If you would like to find out more information regarding your eligibility for either of these programs, please reach out to Chelsea Strawn or stop by the Baylor SSI office located in the lower-level East wing of the Sid Richardson building during business hours on Fridays to speak with her in person.
To pay back the amazing support that the Baylor SSI provides, representatives of GSA also offered to partner in giving back to The Store. The items stocked in The Store typically have a high turnover rate. The SSI office operates primarily on donations and volunteers to keep its resources available to the student body. Volunteers who can commit as little as 30 minutes of time to help stock shelves in the pantry or organize hygiene bags can be of great help to keep this organization going. If you have the resources (or need a quick break from your research), this could be a great opportunity for you and your department to serve your fellow Baylor students right here on campus! Along with volunteering, food donations and monetary donations are always accepted. A good way to encourage unity and community among your colleagues is to do a “mini” food drive within your department to raise awareness and garner resources for The Store.
If you or any of your fellow students could benefit from these resources, Baylor SSI can help you on your journey. Many of us know, all too well, how difficult it can be to balance the never-ending schoolwork, social and family obligations, finances, and feeding yourself (and loved ones). Please know that you have organizations that want to provide a safety net when you fall on hard times, both here on campus and at the national level. Feel free to reach out to your policy committee members, the Baylor SSI office, and your GSA representative for questions and assistance. We hope that the resources we have discussed and the work we continue to do through our partnerships with THI and Baylor SSI will engender feelings of encouragement in our fellow graduate students.
For more information on the store, check out the articles that were published in the Waco Tribune-Herald and the Baylor Lariat.
Sincerely,