MSU mobilizes to address mounting food insecurity

With several factors influencing the suspension of access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, millions of people in the United States — roughly 40% who are children — face the loss of monthly support to purchase food and maintain consistent access to nutritious meals ahead of the holidays.

The suspension of SNAP benefits not only puts a strain on American families who rely on them to meet their basic needs but also increases the strain on students and Michigan community members who experience food insecurity. The issue especially impacts first-generation, commuter and international students, as well as those without meal plans.

Are you food secure? Take the quiz to find out.

Students with limited access to nutritious food can experience disruptions to consistent, healthy eating habits and, in turn, can experience challenges to their academic success. In a strong show of support, over 30 campus units at Michigan State University are organizing to support various food and item collection efforts.

MSU community support

Here are food-related causes MSU units are supporting:

• College of Law: The Black Law Students Association, Triangle Bar Association and the People’s Law Collective present “Spartans vs. Hunger,” a campaign to tackle food insecurity through donations, drives and advocacy.
• Center for Community Engaged Learning is supporting the Refugee Development Center with a food and essential items drive to support newcomers and their families in the Lansing area.
• The College of Osteopathic Medicine and College of Human Medicine Pediatric Interest Groups are hosting a food drive to help kids in the Lansing area experiencing food insecurity.
• Undergraduate Education’s Pathways Programs Essential Needs Pantry ensures students who face unique situational challenges, including financial barriers, have access to food, hygiene products and other necessities. Qualifying programs include TRIO Student Support Services, Detroit M.A.D.E., First-Generation Leadership and Innovation Vanderploeg Scholars and Dow STEM Scholars.
• Prevention, Outreach and Education is collecting food items for the Greater Lansing Food Bank, as well as menstrual and personal care products (items often excluded from SNAP benefits), highlighting the hidden costs of poverty and the importance of inclusive support.
• MSU Women of Color Community is partnering with MSU Fostering Academics, Mentoring Excellence to support current students who have been or are caregivers, have experienced homelessness, or are otherwise on their own.
• Residence Education and Housing Services is running a “Pack Up. Pitch In.” drive for donating unwanted residence household goods, clothing, shoes, bikes, electronics, furniture and nonperishable food that will be sent to the MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center for reuse, thrift sales and student support programs.
• Several MSU units and departments have committed to supporting the MSU Food Bank, including the Biological Sciences Program; Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science; Chicano/Latino Studies; College of Music; College of Natural Science; Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Cultures; Digital Humanities; Division of Student Affairs; Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs; Institutional Research; Office for Inclusive Excellence and Impact; Office of the Executive Vice President for Administration; Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities; Student Athlete Support Services; University Communications and Marketing; University Health and Wellbeing and more!

MSU Food Bank

MSU is no stranger to mobilizing during times of need. Founded in 1993, the MSU Food Bank and Basic Needs Program is the nation’s first student-run food pantry. Originally created to support students facing food insecurity, the program is managed by University Health and Wellbeing, or UHW, and has expanded over the years and now has two Spartan Shelf locations — one at the MSU Union and another at Olin Health Center.

Open year-round, eligible individuals can visit once per week to access fresh dairy, produce, proteins, shelf-stable items, cleaning products and personal hygiene supplies. Each year, the MSU Food Bank serves over 6,000 students — many with families— and distributes over 110,000 pounds of food.

The 32-year-old program has seen a substantial increase in the number of students seeking assistance, particularly in recent years, highlighting the continued need for its services.

Once news broke that SNAP benefits would pause in November due to the federal government shutdown, the MSU Food Bank worked with partner organizations like the Greater Lansing Food Bank and student volunteers to keep its pantry shelves stocked.

Additional efforts, such as the 2024–25 Hunger Free Campus initiative, led by the Spartan Food Security Council student organization, have worked to establish a Hunger Free Task Force and explore how to keep students informed about resources, such as SNAP benefits, through the state of Michigan.

Food and wellness resources

While campus food pantries can’t replace SNAP benefits, they help prepare for the lapse. The MSU Food Bank is available to all MSU students and employees and is open Tuesdays, 3 to 8 p.m.; Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Eligible students can walk in to receive a prepacked bag of emergency food essentials or schedule an appointment online to visit one of the Spartan Shelf locations.

Beyond campus, MSU Extension has launched a Community Food Assistance website to connect Michigan residents with budgeting tips and local services.

The Spartan Food Security Council hosted an off-campus SNAP Benefit Workshop with the MSU Food Bank during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, providing information on SNAP eligibility shifts and helping students navigate application barriers.

In a time of uncertainty for many, Spartans are working together to care for our community and ensure everyone has access to food and essential items. Go Green!