A C A M P U S A N D C O M M U N I T Y F O O D PA N T RY P R O J E C T T O F I G H T F

THE COMMON GOOD Michelle Wurst | Taylor Reid

INTRODUCTION OUR EXPERIENCE SUMMARY

Food Insecurity is a rising problem on college campuses. Food insecurity
can be defined as limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally
adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire
acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. (1,2) Food insecurity can
occur with or without hunger. There are many students reported to be
experiencing food insecurity without hunger. These students may be
purchasing two to three very cheap foods with little nutritional value to
sustain their hunger cues but putting themselves at risk for malnutrition
The Common Good is an off-campus ministry for students and the Bowling With the research available supporting food pantries, this project aims to
Green Community. While the Common Good used to have a food pantry, help students and the community combat food insecurity long-term and
finding someone to help run it was a struggle. Many students used this prevent malnutrition within the Bowling Green community and campus. It
pantry and since it has closed, the Common Good has requested the help will be available one or two days a week for a couple hours to help those
of Bowling Green State University to get another pantry up and running. who may need a few extra nutritious items.
Here are the four ways the food pantry will be helping the Bowling Green Continue as a resource Connect the Bowling
community and campus overcome food insecurity: for food insecure Green campus and
students and community
members
community

(3,4). This has become a problem due to students relying on student loan 1. Create a food pantry
money to help pay for food, students being unemployed or students
2. Recruit help to run the pantry
experiencing instability in housing. It has become hard for students to
come up with the means to support a full grocery list with nutrient dense 3. Locate food resources for donation
options (6,7,8). This can lead to a number of problems such as students 4. Market the food pantry on campus
Raise
awareness
Food Encourage
involvement
changing food habits, borrowing money, performing poorly in schoolwork, regarding food
insecurity
Pantry in PUSH and
the common
postponing medical care and putting off paying bills (5). There is research good
showing that when a campus opens a food pantry, students utilize it and
revisit (10). Once the pantry is up and running, there will be recipes and tips to help
students/community members make the most of their groceries. Having
this resource will make the most what will be available in the pantry to
prevent food waste.
R E S E A R C H
One in 6 Northwest Ohioans face uncertainty
about having enough to eat according to The
P R A C T I C A L A P P L I C AT I O N S
Toledo Northwestern Ohio Food Bank
Clinical applications in this area needs to become more developed through
statistics from the 2014 Hunger in America
practice and research. With a better understanding of the food insecurity
Study. A recent study has found that a range
concept, this project should help individuals turn their attention to
of 14-59% of college students are
addressing the issue. Food pantries will allow clinicians to refer to a helpful
experiencing food insecurity. It was also
food resource, help
noted that 2 million full-time students were
students academically,
signed up for Feeding America. With this growing problem, food pantries Food and help students
are opening up all over the country. At Wright State University in Dayton, pantries will defeat malnutrition by
OH they completed a research study implementing a food pantry on their collecting donations,
allow
campus. stocking, shelves, and
Hunger on College Campuses clinicians to:
distributing food items
to those in need.
Refer to a Help students This community &
21% helpful food defeat university based food
The goal is to open the Common Good food pantry during the fall 2018 resource malnutrition pantry can help
semester. Bowling Green State Universitys Presidents United to Solve
48% 26% address the food
22% Hunger (PUSH) will help to run the food pantry and set up food drives on Help insecurity and health
campus throughout the campus convenience stores and organizations.
31% students needs by education
There will be campus updates, informative emails, and marketing
academically This initiative will
throughout the campus televisions regarding the food pantry for grand
increase individuals
opening. PUSH will also be held responsible for maintaining volunteers to
recommended nutrition
keep the food pantry open and running for following years to come.
High food security Marginal food security Low food security Very low food security
needs.