SCENE Spring 2017 | Page 3

CAMPUS NEWS
College Community Unites to Help Resolve Food Insecurity
Infographic
by Emma
Connaughton '17
econ
52% of college students nationwide were food insecure at
some point last year, meaning they had limited or uncertain
access to nutritious and safe foods.
The Association of Community
College Trustees recently released a
survey of more than 33,000 students
at 70 community colleges in 24 states-
-the broadest survey of its kind--that
describes the extent to which students
are adversely affected by unmet basic
needs such as food and housing while
pursuing higher education.
More than half of all respondents (52%)
reported that they were at least marginally
food insecure over the past 30 days. Food
insecurity is the limited or uncertain
availability of nutritionally adequate and
safe foods, or the ability to acquire such
foods in socially acceptable ways. The
survey found that 21% indicated a very low
level of food security, 19% had a low level
of security, and 13% were marginally secure.
RCC FOOD PANTRY EXPANDS
At RCC, the demand on the Food Pantry
has grown noticeably over the past few years.
The Food Pantry, located in the Fieldhouse,
provides non-perishable grocery items free for
any currently enrolled student experiencing
need. This Spring, due to the increasing need to
alleviate students’ food insecurity, the hours for
the Food Pantry were increased so that it is now
open five days a week.
Thanks to the combined
efforts of the College
Community and the
faculty union, 667 students
received vouchers to
purchase a hot meal on
campus this semester.
FACULTY UNI ON AND COLLEGE
COMMUNITY STEP UP
Twice in the past year, the RCC
Federation of Teachers (faculty union),
under the leadership of Bill Baker, Professor
of Biology/SUNY Distinguished Service
Professor, made generous donations to help
the College provide food to students in need.
In December, the RCCFT donated
$14,750 to provide 250 holiday meal boxes
to students and their families. In March,
Student Involvement conducted a campus-
wide campaign that yielded $1,319 in
donations toward food vouchers at the
Campus Café for students in need. The
RCCFT stepped up again first by matching
the amount raised and then adding enough
to bring the total to $4,000, which covered
667 food vouchers for students.
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