Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf today announced that $1 million in PA Hunger-Free Campus grants have been awarded to 28 institutions of higher education (IHE) and private licensed schools to combat student hunger across the commonwealth.
“With more than a third of students knowing someone who dropped out of college due to food insecurity during the pandemic, hunger affects far too many postsecondary students across the nation,” said Gov. Wolf. “The PA Hunger-Free Campus designation and grant program gives Pennsylvania’s colleges and universities the tools they need to combat hunger on their campuses and provide students with access to healthy food so they can stay focused, learn, and grow.”
The 28 institutions represent the first cohort of awardees since the program’s creation earlier this year.
“Hunger should never be what holds someone back from taking steps to invest in their future – and the future of Pennsylvania. From high school graduates pursuing career pathways to adults making career changes and adapting to shifts in workforce needs, students deserve proper support in achieving their higher education goals,” said First Lady Wolf. “I’m proud that the Hunger-Free Campus program can offer that support and look forward to seeing the innovative ways that schools address food insecurity on their campuses.”
Awardees include:
Allegheny County
- Carnegie Mellon University, $59,996
- La Roche University, $20,000
- Pittsburgh Technical College, $19,400
- Robert Morris University, $39,911
- University of Pittsburgh, $60,000
Berks County
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, $60,000
- Reading Area Community College, $40,000
Bucks County
- Bucks County Community College, $59,945
Centre County
- Pennsylvania State University, $60,000
Chester County
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania, $54,399
Columbia County
- Commonwealth University, $60,000
Delaware County
- Cabrini University, $20,000
- Neumann University, $20,000
Erie County
- Mercyhurst University, $20,000
Franklin
Lackawanna County
- Johnson College, $20,000
- Lackawanna College, $20,000
Lancaster County
- Millersville University of Pennsylvania, $40,000
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, $20,000
Lawrence County
- Westminster College, $20,000
Lehigh County
- Cedar Crest College, $20,000
- Lehigh Carbon Community College, $40,000
Monroe County
- East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, $40,000
Montgomery County
- Arcadia University, $40,000
Philadelphia County
- La Salle University, $40,000
- University of the Arts, $13,767
Snyder County
- Susquehanna University, $12,458
Washington County
- Pennsylvania Western University, $60,000
Last summer, First Lady Wolf and Acting Secretary of Education Eric Hagarty unveiled the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, featuring the PA Hunger-Free Campus and PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designations, to build a coalition of Pennsylvania institutions of IHEs focused on addressing hunger and other basic needs for their students, creating opportunities for connection among student hunger advocates, providing resources and strategies for campuses, and supporting opportunities to apply for grants related to addressing food insecurity.
Through the 2022-2023 PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant Program, colleges with the PA Hunger-Free Campus or PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designation applied for competitive funding in an amount up to:
- $20,000 for institutions with 3,000 or fewer learners;
- $40,000 for institutions with 3,001 to 7,000 learners; and
- $60,000 for institutions with 7,001 learners or more.
Postsecondary institutions that received a PA Hunger-Free Campus+ designation implemented additional innovative solutions to address student hunger and other basic needs for their campus community in conjunction with demonstrating additional criteria. Examples of these initiatives included offering a variety of meal plans, including an option that provides ten or fewer meals weekly to avoid interfering with SNAP eligibility, creating or implementing meal-sharing programs, educating student leaders on campus to develop student-centered programs, or facilitating innovative community partnerships.
The grants are awarded with the purpose of addressing food insecurity on campus, including expanding access to food options, creating awareness initiatives, and upgrading facilities. Awardees will be able to utilize the grant funds until December 31, 2023.
The PA Hunger-Free Campus designations are reopened and institutions can apply. Designees receive a certificate of recognition and placement on the PA Hunger-Free Campus website, and they also have an opportunity to apply for future grant opportunities.
Governor Wolf has served for two terms as a leader consistently at work for the people of Pennsylvania. Learn more about how his Priorities for Pennsylvania have fueled the commonwealth’s comeback, leaving Pennsylvania in a much better place than when he arrived.
