Swipe Out Hunger, the leading nonprofit addressing college student hunger, and The GIANT Company, a leading grocery retailer serving families across the Mid-Atlantic region, announced their partnership to combat college student hunger. Together, they will be awarding a total of $300,000 in grants to more than 60 campuses in the Swipe Out Hunger network, making it the largest one-time gift that Swipe Out Hunger has ever received.
Schools will use these grants to support their on-campus food pantries and other anti-hunger programs in a variety of ways, including: to increase staffing capacity and hours of operation, expand food offerings to meet students’ cultural and dietary needs, and purchase cold storage or other equipment for their pantry.
“Food insecurity is a growing problem on college campuses, and I’m proud of the work Shippensburg University is doing to support students through Big Red’s Cupboard. With this generous grant we can expand this program and allow students to remain focused on their academic success,” said Dr. Charles E. Patterson, President of Shippensburg University– one of the grant recipients.
Big Red’s Cupboard is a food pantry that gives students access to free food and personal hygiene items. The cupboard is stocker through donations and supported by a full-time AmeriCorps VISTA position.
Nationally, more than one in three college students faces food insecurity. With the growing demand for hunger relief programs on campus, these grants from Swipe Out Hunger enable colleges to strengthen their on-campus food pantries and ultimately better meet the needs of their students. With The GIANT Company’s additional funding, campuses across the country– and their students– will get critical support for their basic needs.
“With the repeal of pandemic-era benefits for students and the continued high cost of food and other living expenses, this partnership with The GIANT Company comes at such a crucial time for campuses,” said Jaime Hansen, Executive Director of Swipe Out Hunger. “Not only is it a milestone for our organization as the largest one-time gift in our history, but it’s also an incredible source of support for college pantries to grow their resources to end hunger on their campus.”
The GIANT Company, who has a decades-long legacy of supporting the communities it serves, is doubling down on their commitment to eliminate hunger through this partnership with Swipe Out Hunger.
“Since 1923, food security has been essential to The GIANT Company’s purpose of connecting families for a better,” said Joanna Crishock, Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Planning at The GIANT Company. “We believe everyone, especially our youngest and brightest minds, should have access to food. Whether students are pre-K or entering college, they cannot learn on an empty stomach. We are so proud to support Swipe Out Hunger’s college hunger initiatives as part of our 100th anniversary celebrations. Together, with college campus partners, we can help ensure the next generation has access to the nutrition they need to thrive.”
To kick off this initiative, The GIANT Company and Swipe Out Hunger presented the first grant of many to Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania at their campus food pantry, Big Red’s Cupboard. Students, pantry staff, and campus community members came together to celebrate the grant award. Last semester, the cupboard was utilized over 200 times by students. With eight weeks remaining in the semester, the cupboard expects to surpass that number this fall.
