Food insecurity continues to be a problem at many colleges and universities across the country. This problem was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, increasing food insecurity to 38 percent of students at two-year institutions and 29 percent of students at four-year institutions. 

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States considers a person food insecure when they lack regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. 

Studies have shown that food insecurity can negatively affect students’ academic performance and physical health. Students who are food insecure are more likely to earn lower grades, have lower graduation rates, and report higher rates of depression and stress compared with students who are food secure. 

There are resources at Arcadia University to help students experiencing food insecurity. This week, the Knights for Nutrition Food Pantry, located in Room 110 at Knight Hall, reopened for the fall semester. The pantry offers a variety of perishable and non-perishable food items, as well as personal and household hygiene products. 

“This is mutual aid for our students, meaning they can come and take what they need and leave what they don’t need,” said Sabrina Glass, director of the Office of Sexual and Gender-based Violence Prevention and Education and Director of the Knights for Nutrition Food Pantry. “Students used to be able to shop at the pantry with a ‘point system,’ but we decided that people should take what they need.”

“Everyone has been really good about it, and we have not had a problem with any student taking unfair advantage of this service,” she added. “There’s an understanding that we have to help everyone in need.” 

The Knights for Nutrition Food Pantry is open at the following times:

A satellite pantry for Oak Summit is also being planned. Students living at Oak Summit are welcome to use the pantry on campus. 

This semester, the pantry will host farmer’s markets that are free to all students. They will take place between 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on:

The pantry is staffed by dedicated student workers and graduate assistants. It relies on gifts, both physical and monetary, to help students in need. Anyone interested in making a gift to the Knight for Nutrition Food Pantry can do so by contacting Denis Brosnan at brosnand@arcadia.edu or by visiting this website.