05/30/2025

Supporters Say Hunger-free Campus Act Would Benefit Ohio Students’ Well-being

This is a necessary program for many students facing food insecurity

Advocates recently spoke out in favor of a bill that would help Ohio college students dealing with food insecurity.

A bill that would require the Chancellor of Higher Education to create the Hunger-free Campus Grant Program had supporter testimony last week in the Ohio House Workforce and Higher Education Committee meeting. The program would award hunger-free campus grants which could, for example, create an on-campus food pantry or a partnership with a local bank, provide students information about SNAP, have an emergency assistance grant available to students or have a student meal plan credit donation program.

"The Hunger-free Campus Act would incentivize colleges and universities to establish basic needs programs, like an on-site food pantry or emergency assistance grant program as well as connecting students to resources," said Sarah Kuhns, external affairs manager of the Ohio Association of Foodbanks. "Throughout our network’s engagement on the issue of college student hunger, it has been clear that the approach has been patchwork, leading institutions to establish basic needs programs only if they have the connections, the will and the funds to do so."

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Ohio Capital Journal.