Students, Basic Needs Are At The Reach Of Your Fingertips
Cal State Northridge along with 22 other CSU campuses currently rely on a food distribution program, or a food pantry which provides emergency subsistence and basic necessities to students and staff at no cost. In 2015 CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White, conducted a study to find out whether needs of displaced and food insecure students were being met in order for them to succeed with their education and graduate on time. The study led to a Basic Needs Initiative to ensure student’s food insecurity and other problems at CSU’s were being addressed.
The first CSU implementation as to combat displaced and food insecure students was the approval of food stamps or Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and the use of CalFresh benefits on campus markets. 41.6% of CSU students reported food insecurity in 2018, a huge increase compared to a 12.3% in 2016. First generation Black/African Americans to attend college had the highest rate of both food insecurity and homelessness according to the study of student’s basic needs (2018). CSUN’s own Food Pantry, part of the CSU cares initiative was established in 2016 under the Matador Involvement Center, part of the Office of Student Involvement and Development, according to Student Assistant Christel Bowen. The pantry opened its doors during the Fall of 2016 and two years later, Fall of 2018 the Pop-Up Pantry began. At the Pop-Up, fresh fruits and vegetables are distributed along with recipe cards, and food tastings while stands with CalFresh information and assistance on other helpful resources on campus is also provided. CalFresh partners with the CSUN Food Pantry and share office for any questions or concerns students struggling with affording nutritious foods may have, and also regarding the application process.
Bowen said the food pantry partners up with Marilyn Magaram Centers, and the CSUN Sustainability Institute’s Wellness Garden to provide fresh produce at the Pop-Up Pantry for everyone to stop by and grab a bag full.
The event takes place once a month throughout campus for anyone and everyone with a CSUN ID is welcome. Jennifer Rodzianko, CSUN Pop-Up Pantry Coordinator, shows conscious about the issue of basic needs affecting students, “With the amount of food that is wasted each year in the United States alone, I think it’s unacceptable that anyone is struggling to find access to nutritious foods,” said Rodzianko. That is why at the pantry they try to obtain items lower in sodium and added sugars for students to enjoy a healthier meal. The proper nourishment is fundamental for a student’s academic success, it helps you concentrate and function better in school. Students who experience both homlessness and food insecurity had the lowest average GPA as reported by the 2019 survey data from the CSU study on basic needs. At California State University Northridge, other than the Pop-Up, students are also encouraged to attend the food pantry office during their normal operation hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays as they distribute free items such as canned goods, dry packed food, and personal care products as well as school supplies. The pantry provides their services to students not only during the holidays, but all year long. Members are very dedicated and involved with serving their community, recently they distributed Thanksgiving baskets for a third consecutive year which were provided to them by other on campus resource centers and clubs. The problem is many students are not aware that programs like these exist on university campuses, they don’t realize help is available for them to take advantage of. According to the basic needs study, students clearly stated the issue for encountering services was not stigma, as many people think, but not being familiar with the availability of such services on campus.
That is why students are spreading the word and reaching a hand to those who need it. At CSUN student leaders such as Humberto Landeros, double majoring in Communications and Sociology, are getting involved by letting other incoming freshman students know about the existence and location of the monthly Pop-Up Pantry as soon as it is determined. Landeros acknowledged the pantry is available all year long and expresses a special feeling about sharing with others, especially during the holiday season of giving. “We are a community, you come to CSUN and you are a part of something. Think about the people that need the help. It really doesn’t take that much to donate, It’s really beautiful and you get a great feeling of helping out,” said Landeros. The Basic Needs Initiative will continue to assist CSU students with programs such as food pantries already offered. CSUN Pop-Up Pantry coordinator Jennifer Rodzianko, sees the issue as a broader topic affecting many, “We live in a very wealthy state (and country) and I believe that there are a lot of systemic changes that need to be made to provide basic needs like housing to our community members that are dealing with homelessness. We really need to work on being more compassionate,” said Rodzianko. Some of the next steps towards the attempt at ending the food insecurity and homelessness issues are, involving and training more staff into educating students with the right information, affordable housing and more food options for students, and the creation of campaigns to build awareness about CalFresh enrollment and pantries as a preventative way of struggling with food insecurity. These implementations somehow associate to the Graduation Initiative 2025 which aims at increasing CSU graduation rates by eliminating any barrier standing in student’s way.
