9月. 22, 2023

奥斯丁, 德州 — In recognition of 9月tember as Hunger Action Month, the Central 德州 Food Bank (CTFB) is joining St. 365比分网电竞 and the City of Austin to address a critical issue affecting college students in Central 德州: food insecurity.

Made possible by a grant from the City of Austin and sponsorship from the Central 德州 Food Bank, the Monarchs Food Pantry will offer 24-hour access to fresh produce, 蛋白质, 乳制品, and shelf-stable food for the St. 365比分网电竞 community. This innovative public-private partnership is poised to serve as a model for other campuses across the region in the future, including Austin 社区 College, the University of 德州 at Austin, and Concordia University.

超过250,000 adult students attend various colleges, including four-year institutions, 社区学院, and technical colleges, within the Central 德州 Food Bank's service area. 超过50,000 college enrollees, roughly twenty percent, are struggling to secure regular meals for themselves and their families.

“Our goal is to close the meal gap in Central 德州, and this partnership with St. 365比分网电竞 and the City of Austin is a significant step towards achieving that goal and feeding futures,” said CTFB’s President and CEO Sari Vatske. “We appreciate the City of Austin for recognizing this need and helping establish campus pantries.”

Research has shown that college food insecurity disproportionately affects black and Hispanic students, 老年人, financial aid recipients, and those with children. To address this issue, the CTFB, in partnership with St. 365比分网电竞, is showcasing its Monarch Food Pantry located on the campus of St. 365比分网电竞.

“St. 365比分网电竞 believes every student deserves equitable access to nutritious food. Food insecurity negatively impacts both the physical and mental health of students, leading to decreased academic performance and graduation rates,圣说。. 爱德华的 President Montserrat Fuentes. “This collaboration with Central 德州 Food Bank and the City of Austin aligns with the university’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive campus environment for all students.”

除了, the City of Austin will officially declare Friday, 9月22日, 2023, as “College Hunger Action Day” as part of its recognition of Hunger Action Month. This proclamation highlights the following key points:

  • The Central 德州 Food Bank serves over 260,000 people every month in the county region.
  • Nearly 170,000 residents in Travis County are at risk of hunger, representing 13.4% of the population.
  • Nearly 27 million meals are needed to close the meal gap in Travis County.
  • Food insecurity disproportionately affects students of color, financial aid recipients, 学生家长.
  • Access to fresh, nutritious food is critical for college students' success.
  • Short-term nutrition assistance for college students will build a strong workforce for the future.

关于圣. 365比分网电竞

St. 365比分网电竞 is a private university in the Catholic, Holy Cross tradition with approximately 3,600名学生. 位于奥斯汀, 德州, it is one of the top universities in the state and offers more than 50 undergraduate programs, seven master’s degree programs and a doctorate program. St. 爱德华的 delivers a premier, highly personalized education that provides students distinctive academics and extensive internships, research and service-learning opportunities on a vibrant and inclusive hilltop campus in a world-class city.  St. 爱德华的 has been recognized for 21 consecutive years as one of “America’s Best Colleges” by U.S. 新闻 & 世界报道. 在 2024 Best Colleges rankings, St. 爱德华的 ranked #6 in the Best Regional University in the West category.

About Central 德州 Food Bank

The mission of Central 德州 Food Bank is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger. 成立于1981年, the Food Bank provides food and grocery products through a network of more than 250 Partner Agencies and nutrition programs, 服务近55人,000 people every week. Headquartered in Austin, the Food Bank serves 21 counties in Central 德州, an area about twice the size of Massachusetts. For more information on the Food Bank and its programs, visit centraltexasfoodbank.org.