Giving Tuesday with Swipe Out Hunger: Supporting Students During Holiday Breaks

Parcel Pending by Quadient has long recognized the prevalence of food insecurity on college campuses, which is why we recently participated in a Swipe Out Hunger “Swipe Session” exploring strategies to support students during academic breaks, a particularly vulnerable time for food-insecure students. Below are key insights from the discussion.

The Swipe Out Hunger Toolkit

Food insecurity is a pressing problem, with 38% of students at four-year institutions experiencing it, and rates climbing even higher at community colleges (48%) and two-year schools (44%).¹ A 2025 Inside Higher Ed survey reveals that 41% of students experienced food insecurity in the past month, with fewer than half (44%) reporting consistent access to adequate food.²

For college students who rely on on-campus food pantries and dining halls for meals, academic breaks can create sudden and severe food insecurity. These students often choose to remain on campus because of the high cost of travel, athletic commitments, international status, and inflexible lease terms. During the December “Swipe Session”, Swipe Out Hunger shared its toolkit on how to support students during this difficult time, including the following tips:

• Share Off-Campus Resources – Provide a list of resources available during the break, both for basic needs and community socialization. Make sure to include public transportation options.
• Increase Food Limits – If your institution has limits on how much food a student can take during visits, increase them for two weeks before the holiday.
• Provide Gift Cards – Gift cards to grocery stores allow students to cook at home, maximizing their budget and accommodating dietary restrictions. Don’t be afraid to ask local stores for donations. As one student recalled: “It is hard to work to earn enough money to get food, so when the dining commons are closed, it causes anxiety. So, the gift card from my campus program lifted a lot of that anxiety.”
• Stock Residence Halls – Snacks and easy-to-prepare meals are the secret here for success.
• Host a Free Meal – Since loneliness often accompanies food insecurity, a communal meal can create a sense of belonging.
• Create Meal Kits – Students can create their own warm meal on a different day. Think beyond traditional turkeys and include casseroles, packaged items, and canned goods.

How Smart Lockers Can Help

Smart lockers offer a powerful solution for expanding campus food pantry access, providing 24/7 resource availability without requiring additional staff or dedicated space. This self-service model reduces the stigma often associated with seeking food assistance, allowing students to discreetly retrieve items on their own schedule. Schools that implement Parcel Pending lockers typically see at least a 15% increase in students served following installation.³

Strategic placement across campus, near residence halls, libraries, and academic buildings, makes nutritious food accessible between classes, during study sessions, and during late-night library visits. These locker systems are particularly valuable for students living in food deserts or those without reliable transportation to grocery stores. When equipped with refrigerated lockers, schools can add an extra layer of comfort and food safety by allowing perishable items to be stored for pickup alongside other, shelf-stable items.

Middle Georgia State University Wins “Hunger Doesn’t Take Breaks” Award

Prior to the December “Swipe Session”, Swipe Out Hunger partner colleges were invited to participate in a contest by sharing their innovative approaches to ensuring year-round access to food. During the session, the Swipe Out Hunger team announced that Middle Georgia State University won the grand prize for its Knight’s Table pantry, aptly named in an ode to its team name, the Knights. The grand prize, a refrigerated locker system donated by Parcel Pending, will allow it to serve more students, especially during holiday breaks. As London Dejarnette, Programs Coordinator, shared, “This is a wonderful resource that really has dignity in mind, and this is a campus that is really focused on that.”⁴

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Food insecurity doesn’t take a break during the holidays. With thoughtful planning and the right tools, campuses can ensure students have consistent access to nutritious meals year-round, leveraging the power of smart lockers.

As a proud partner to more than 45 higher education food pantries, Parcel Pending is committed to helping schools safely and discreetly distribute food to students in need. As part of its ongoing partnership with Swipe Out Hunger, we are offering eligible partners 20% off smart locker purchases. We have also ensured our locker solutions integrate seamlessly with PantrySoft, a food pantry software management tool, enabling further discretion and automated communications within your existing system.

For more information on how lockers can deliver greater benefits to food-insecure students, staff, and faculty at your school, speak with a Parcel Pending by Quadient representative today.

Sources:

1. Landry, Matthew J. & Eicher-Miller, Heather. Pandemic threatens food security for many college students. theconversation.com. October 9, 2020. https://theconversation.com/pandemic-threatens-food-security-for-many-college-students-146823
2. Mowreader, Ashley. Survey: 3 in 5 College Students Experience Food or Housing Insecurity. www.insidehighered.com. February 27, 2025. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/health-wellness/2025/02/27/most-college-students-lack-sufficient-food-housing
3. Based on client data, your results may vary.
4. Lopez, Jasmin. Giving Tuesday with Quadient: Campus Innovation During Holiday Breaks. swipehunger.org. December 10, 2025. https://swipehunger.org/gtquadient/