Did you know over 4 million college students are facing food insecurity? When students can’t afford what they need to survive like food and shelter, their basic needs are going unmet. Hunger, homelessness, and access to other essentials for living directly impacts their ability to pursue education and training for a better future. Students can’t perform well academically when they’re living paycheck to paycheck, constantly worried about their next meal.

But this can change: SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is key to overcoming this challenge. It's a lifeline that helps students bridge the gap and complete their studies. The catch? The current law makes it extremely difficult for college students to access SNAP benefits. Many are forced into a choice between continuing their education or dropping out so they can eat.

Congress can change the situation, but they need to hear from you. Your voice makes all the difference. 

Sign the petition today and urge Congress to support legislative changes that ensure no student must choose between education and food. Together, we can make a difference. Your voice matters! ��️ #LetStudentsEat

See the full letter below:

Dear Members of Congress,

We are writing to you today to discuss the critical issue of food insecurity among college students. As someone who values the transformative power of higher education, food insecurity too often is detrimental to students’ abilities to succeed in their academic pursuits.

Shockingly, 39% of today’s college students come from low-income backgrounds, and a staggering 51% are financially independent. Unfortunately, food insecurity is common for these students, slowing down their progress and setting them back on attaining education and training that will better prepare them for the workforce. According to the Government Accountability Office, nearly two million college students, or 51% of the total, suffer from hunger. This crisis is even more severe for student parents, with 70% reporting basic needs insecurities.

Students use SNAP to help bridge the food insecurity gap to help them finish their studies and enhance their economic mobility. Food-insecure students with access to support are significantly more likely to complete their studies. Unfortunately, the complicated eligibility requirements for college students make it extremely challenging to access SNAP. Without access to these benefits, students face a daunting choice: continue their academic journey or drop out to meet their basic nutritional needs. By making SNAP benefits easier for students who meet eligibility requirements, we can help them bridge the gap in meeting their fundamental needs, enabling them to earn their credentials and enter the workforce.

As we approach the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, I implore you to collaborate with your esteemed colleagues to ensure that students most in need of food support can access SNAP benefits. By prioritizing the well-being and success of college students, we can cultivate a brighter future for our nation and unleash the full potential of its future leaders.

Thank you for your attention to this pressing matter.

Sincerely,