We are a group of eighth grade students at Curtis Middle School in Sudbury, Massachusetts, who are working on a Civics Action Project to address the growing problem of  food insecurity among students at public universities and community colleges in Massachusetts. Our goal is to raise awareness about the huge number of college students struggling to receive three nutritious meals each day. Approximately one-third of all Massachusetts college students experience hunger, and they worry about where their next meal may come from. If one-third of the college students face this problem everyday, that adds up to more than 153,000 students in Massachusetts alone.

 Imagine you are one of those students. You start the day off hungry, but you can’t afford to buy breakfast. So, you skip the most important meal of the day and head straight to your first class. Once you arrive, you suddenly have a throbbing headache and your stomach growls. It quickly becomes difficult to focus and you lose the energy you had when you woke up. This common problem not only limits the abilities of students to perform and engage in class, but it also sets them up poorly for the rest of the day.

In addition, when college students cannot afford meal after meal, their attention span is negatively impacted over time. Their grades quickly drop, ultimately making it extremely difficult to find a high-paying job based on their education. This cycle of hunger and reduced academic performance limits their income and soon, they are once again caught in the same situation as they try to make a good living.  Some of these students also fall into large amounts of debt which only creates more pressure on them.

Several years ago, the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was funded during the COVID-19 pandemic. One important goal of ARPA was to supply $1,000,000 to specific colleges that applied for financial aid to support students who were not able to access food for themselves. Some causes of the hunger problem on campuses included inflation, which resulted in increased costs for both food and school tuition (and related fees). During the pandemic, the quarantine prohibited many students from continuing their everyday routines, including their vital need to work enough hours to earn money to keep up with the high cost of living expenses. Although ARPA started in 2020, the money quickly ran out and ARPA was discontinued at the end of 2022. 

Based on our research, which includes interviews with public policy experts at Boston University, the Greater Boston Food Bank, and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, as well as staff members for Massachusetts legislators, we conclude that the best way to begin ending food insecurity for Massachusetts college students is to support approval of the Hunger Free Campus Initiative in the FY25 Massachusetts state budget. The Hunger Free Campus Initiative will provide $2,000,000 to individual colleges that apply for these benefits. By approving this Initiative, the program will secure permanent funding on a bi-annual basis to support the critical needs of Massachusetts’ next generation of educated citizens and workers. By approving The Hunger Free Campus Initiative in the FY25 state budget, the Massachusetts legislature and Governor Maura Healey will provide desperately needed support to this vulnerable group of more than 150,000 residents. Finally, this program allows colleges to apply for funds in a manner that offers flexibility in solving problems. Some hungry students are commuters, while others reside on campus. Delivering food to such diverse populations requires colleges to determine the best mechanisms to solve problems unique to their situation (eg, mobile food trucks, community refrigerators, food banks, etc.).

We need your help to spread awareness about the growing problem of hunger on Massachusetts college and university campuses. By signing our petition, you not only express support for The Hunger Free Campus Initiative and related legislation, but you will also help to provide much needed relief to thousands of students, and give them a better opportunity to become their best selves. These students desperately need your help to remain healthy and to receive the highest quality education possible. Your willingness to help is greatly appreciated and will make an enormous difference to many students throughout our state. Thank you for your consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Madison Porter

Emma Trainor

Olivia Riford - Diarbakerly