{"id":38857,"date":"2025-10-15T09:00:04","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T09:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/?p=38857"},"modified":"2025-10-15T21:21:50","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T21:21:50","slug":"how-to-overcome-barriers-to-food-access-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.parcelpending.com\/en-us\/blog\/how-to-overcome-barriers-to-food-access-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Overcome Barriers to Food Access on Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Food insecurity on campus isn’t going away. In fact, the problem continues to intensify as students struggle with rising tuition costs, growing economic uncertainty, skyrocketing food prices, and shrinking federal financial aid. Yet many students in desperate need aren’t getting assistance, whether because of the stigma attached to asking for help or simply not knowing where to go for support. When students can’t easily access reliable and nutritional meals, the consequences ripple far beyond empty stomachs, directly impacting institutional reputation, enrollment numbers, matriculation rates, and student satisfaction scores.<\/p>\n

This blog explores practical strategies to break down food access barriers \u2013\u00a0including a downloadable eBook packed with deeper insights on addressing food insecurity in higher education.<\/p>\n

Overcoming Food Insecurity Stigmas<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s hard to convey the stigma that students can feel when asking for help, but it is a contributor to why fewer students are willing to raise their hand and request assistance. Feelings of isolation play a significant role, as do growing mental health challenges. 35% of students considered leaving their program in the last six months, with 53% citing emotional stress and 43% citing mental health as primary reasons.1<\/sup> This comes as reports of 18-to 25-year-olds experiencing loneliness surge.2<\/sup><\/p>\n

The data becomes even more revealing when you consider that nearly half of all students in a recent US study reported experiencing food insecurity according, yet only 17% stated that they shopped at a food pantry. Further, 30% believed other students needed the food more than they did, while 21% felt embarrassed about using the service.3<\/sup><\/p>\n

A shining example of how to approach food insecurity with dignity is Bunker Hill Community College<\/a> and its successful DISH (Deliver Information, Sustenance, and Health) initiative. It adopted Parcel Pending smart lockers as an \u201cinvisible\u201d way to deliver food and other key supplies. As Rob Zinsky, Vice President of Business Development at Parcel Pending by Quadient, summarizes: \u201cIndividuals obviously are sensitive about going into the food pantry, so the ability to order a meal online and pick it up discreetly in a locker anytime they want can be game-changing.\u201d In 2024 alone, the DISH Food Pantry program distributed over 95,000 pounds of food, fulfilled more than 35,000 Grab-and-Go visits, and facilitated over 1,400 locker pickups. Of the locker pickups, nine in 10 users rated the food quality as \u201cexcellent\u201d or \u201cgood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Adding Convenience and Accessibility to Food Services<\/h2>\n

The profile of a typical college student is shifting. Whereas before most students entered college immediately after high school, lived on campus, and took a full course load, today\u2019s population is more diverse and mature, as well as more likely to attend classes part-time while holding down a job or supporting other family members. These shifts translate into added difficulty in accessing food programs during \u201cstandard\u201d service hours.<\/p>\n

Enter smart lockers that allow students to retrieve food on their<\/em> schedule, even outside regular dining services hours. When implemented as part of larger distribution hubs around campus, students can access lockers without telegraphing to others that they are receiving aid. Furthermore, leveraging locker systems as a distribution system for food and other supplies (e.g., textbooks, campus store purchases, etc.) bolsters efficiency, as no extra staffing is required to support collections.<\/p>\n

Finding Funding for Your Campus Food Pantry<\/h2>\n

In the current climate, it can feel difficult to find funding for capital expenditures. While there\u2019s no central clearinghouse identifying ways to raise funds for meals, there are still options out there for colleges and universities to secure funds. Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n