Food Insecurity Being Addressed On MU Campus

College students often face food insecurity, but problems like the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are making that worse.  

The Marshall University (MU) Student Government Association (SGA) and Student Affairs have started their annual food drive by placing donation drop-off boxes in all of the main Marshall campus buildings. 

Connor Waller, Marshall University Student Body president, said the recent pause in SNAP benefits is changing the way they operate. 

“Right now, where it may be affecting larger parts of the community, we’re going to try to lean into the pop-up pantry style, that way students can come directly to us,” Waller said. 

He said the ultimate goal of this food drive is to help students, staff and faculty in the Marshall community who may be struggling. 

“At the end of the day, every single student on this campus, every faculty member, we need to make sure they’re not worried about where their next meal is coming from,” Waller said. 

Waller added that “we can’t stand for ‘Marshall For All, Marshall Forever’ if we can’t make sure those basic needs are met first.” 

SGA and Student Affairs are collecting a wide range of necessities so that each student, no matter their background, will be taken care of. 

“We’re trying to make sure we have a very broad collection of stuff coming in. For example, some of our students are parents, so we’re collecting things like baby food as well,” Waller said. 

Collection boxes will remain in campus buildings until Nov. 7, and donations can be dropped off at the SGA office. For more information, please click here.

This report was produced thanks to a partnership between Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications and West Virginia Public Broadcasting.