The University of Baltimore's Campus Pantry was highlighted in a recent Baltimore Sun article about area college students expressing concerns related to food insecurity amid uncertainties about SNAP benefits.
"Food insecurity has long affected college students at higher rates than the general population," the article states. "According to the National Library of Medicine, American college students experience food insecurity more frequently than their local communities, which affects academic performance, physical health and mental well-being."
UBalt's Campus Pantry, which relies on local donations as well as partnerships with the Maryland Food Bank and other providers, serves the University population by offering access to food and basic necessities. In recent weeks, interest in the pantry has been on the rise, as the now-ended shutdown of the federal government impacted SNAP benefits.
Anthony Butler, director of UBalt's Center for Student Engagement and Inclusion and manager of the Campus Pantry, tells the Sun that the University is consistently watchful of food insecurity issues.
"The pause on SNAP is reflected in the stories of those who visit our pantry,” Butler said. "Some of them are surprised this resource even exists, and we do everything we can to reduce barriers."
The article noted that out of roughly 350,000 college students in Maryland, more than 116,000 are likely struggling to ensure that they have enough to eat. A Maryland Food Bank statistic indicates that one in three Marylanders "might face hunger on any given day."
Read the article in The Baltimore Sun.
Learn more about UBalt's Campus Pantry.