CAMPUS
NEWS
STORY & PHOTOS
LESLY GUZMAN
BY THE NUMBERS
A new study reveals that
many SAC students don't have
adequate food supply, struggle
to afford and access food.
65%
85%
88%
had inadequate food
supply at least once
this semester
feel that a food
pantry is needed at
SAC
would frequently or
occasionally use an
on-campus pantry
SOURCE: SAC Research Department
Mystery
Donation to
'Fight Hunger'
NEW STATISTICS RAISE CONCERNS
ON CAMPUS: State survey shows that one out of two college students
lack meals every day. On our campus, the number could be even higher.
Sometimes, Thomas Huggins
runs out of food for his family.
But the 33-year-old father of two
takes classes at Santiago Canyon
College, so to fi ll in the gaps,
Huggins uses the Hawk's Nest
Food Pantry, the college's twice-
monthly pantry for students.
"I can tell you that when you're
hungry, pride goes out the
window," Huggins, who also
attends Santa Ana College, said.
"I think that [having a pantry] is
important for somebody that's
spending a lot of time in college
to progress."
SAC's Associate Student
Government plans to have a
grocery-style food pantry by
spring semester.
Food insecurity is a signifi cant
4
issue at SAC. More than half of all
students have to choose between
buying food and purchasing other
resources. About 65% have an
inadequate food supply more
than once this semester. 13% went
without eating more than fi ve
times per term.
The results come from a
campus-wide survey distributed
in September by the Research
Department in collaboration with
SAC's ASG.
"People should know that it's
okay [to need free food]," criminal
justice major Stephanie Salgado
said. "Students will take advantage
of it, especially if [the pantry] is
here on campus."
85% of the respondents have
known someone who has lacked
el Don Santa Ana College · December 2019
adequate food supply.
"The college is working with
nonprofi ts to off er support
services for our students," Vice
President of Student Services
Vaniethia said.
However, psychology major
Giselle Cervantes was not
surprised. She said that students
going hungry is all too common.
"It's very normalized among
college students," she said.
Dependent students can sign
up for CalFresh, a public benefi ts
program for food, without having
to submit their parent's tax return.
Two out of every fi ve students
are eligable for CalFresh. Local
chain restaurants allow CalFresh
recipients to purchase hot meals
using their benefi ts.
On Nov. 22, the California
Community Colleges
announced that an
anonymous donor gave
$500,000 to support eff orts
to fi ght food insecurity at
community colleges.
“It is crucial that we
provide our students with
the support they need to
achieve their educational
goals,” said CCC Chancellor
Eloy Ortiz Oakley.
The chancellor said the
money will be distributed
among colleges based
on fi nancial need as
established by Pell Grant
eligibility. It's unclear how
much SAC will benefi t from
this donation.