In a recent campus-wide study, nearly 32% of WCU students reported experiencing food insecurity. Research clearly demonstrates that food insecurity has profound negative consequences on the academic performance and degree completion of college students, and students of color are at a much higher risk of experiencing food insecurity.  Please join us in calling for WCU to adopt a Swipe Out Hunger program as one tool for helping to address this important social justice issue.  

Swipe Out Hunger is a national movement that empowers students to act as allies for their peers who are experiencing food insecurity, and it is already in place at 80+ campuses nationwide.

The basics of the program are:

• Students who have unused meal swipes at the end of a semester can donate some of these excess swipes to a pool that can then be distributed to students who are experiencing food insecurity.
• Students who receive the swipes can eat in the dining hall using their id cards like all other students, greatly minimizing the stigma of food assistance.  Hence, the program also allows students to engage in a “normal” college student activity – enjoying a meal with their friends. Research shows that these types of experiences, which allow students to form bonds with their peers are also key to academic success.

**We especially need WCU students to express their willingness to donate their excess meal swipes. If you are a WCU student who is willing to donate their excess meal swipes, please leave a comment on the petition indicating that!