When most people think of hunger, they often imagine families, individuals struggling with unemployment, or those experiencing homelessness. But hunger doesn’t always look the way we expect—it can be found in places that may surprise you, like college campuses.

In fact, food insecurity is an increasingly common problem among college students. According to recent studies, nearly 40 million students face food insecurity in the United States at some point during their academic journey. This means that many students are forced to make difficult decisions between paying for tuition, textbooks, and essentials like food.

At Philabundance, our mission is to eliminate hunger wherever it exists, and this includes the hunger many college students experience every day. Recently, we had the opportunity to visit Temple University’s Cherry Pantry, a resource that has been making a huge impact in the fight against student hunger.

It’s easy to overlook hunger on college campuses, especially when these institutions are often seen as places of opportunity, growth, and achievement. However, many students face an uphill battle, balancing the high costs of education, housing, and everyday living expenses. For some, affording a meal becomes an impossible task.

Students facing food insecurity often experience higher levels of stress, reduced academic performance, and in some cases, are forced to drop out of school entirely. When students don’t have access to nutritious meals, it doesn’t just impact their physical health—it affects their ability to focus in class, complete assignments, and participate in extracurricular activities that are crucial for personal and professional growth.

At Temple University, the Cherry Pantry was created to address this very issue.

What is the Cherry Pantry?

Temple’s Cherry Pantry is a food pantry that serves students who are experiencing food insecurity. Open to all students with a valid university ID, the pantry offers a variety of free food items, including non-perishable goods, produce, and personal hygiene products. Its mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that no student has to make the difficult choice between their education and their next meal.

By providing free, nutritious food, the Cherry Pantry gives students the opportunity to focus on their studies, without worrying about where their next meal will come from. The pantry is also a space where students can access resources and support without feeling stigmatized.

Ella Hyde, a student worker at the Cherry Pantry, emphasized the importance of the pantry’s offerings, stating:

“We offer a lot of food that can be used for multiple meals like pasta, rice, and we have a lot of fresh produce and let students take as much as they want. We have milk a lot now because of Philabundance. We have hygiene [products], which I think is huge.”

Thanks to the Cherry Pantry and support from Philabundance, students can access not only nutritious meals but also essential hygiene products that are often overlooked when discussing food insecurity.

Natalie Knox, another student worker at the Cherry Pantry, spoke to the challenges that many students face as they transition from on-campus to off-campus living. She explained:

“Definitely has given me a lot more perspective on how the transition from campus housing to off-campus housing has intercepted with food insecurity. At first, there was a stigma, not a lot of people knew about the pantry. But with inflation and more students, I’ve seen a lot of students utilize the pantry.”

Natalie also highlighted an important issue tied to food insecurity: self-confidence and the stigma that sometimes comes with using a food pantry.

“An underlying issue that conjoins with food insecurity is self-confidence or feeling insecure when coming in and utilizing a food pantry. We don’t have a limit on how much nail polish you can take. If you’re not food secure, then you’re food insecure. When addressing food insecurity, you also have to address the social, physical, and well-being side of it.”

These insights reveal how food insecurity is more than just a lack of access to meals—it touches on students’ social and emotional well-being. By offering students not only food but also a supportive environment free of judgment, the Cherry Pantry helps address the broader impacts of hunger.

Philabundance and the Fight Against Student Hunger

At Philabundance, we’ve seen the instant impact that access to food can have on individuals and communities. Our visit to the Cherry Pantry reaffirmed how critical partnerships with organizations like Temple University are in our broader mission to end hunger in our region.

During our visit, we saw firsthand how the Cherry Pantry is providing much-needed support to students. From shelves stocked with healthy foods to dedicated staff and volunteers ensuring the pantry runs smoothly, the Cherry Pantry is a lifeline for students who need it most.

Our support for the Cherry Pantry is part of our larger commitment to addressing food insecurity in all its forms. Hunger can be found in every community, from families to seniors to, yes, college students. By working together with local universities, food banks, and community organizations, we can ensure that no one—whether a student, parent, or senior citizen—has to face hunger alone.

How You Can Help

The fight against hunger is a community effort, and there are many ways you can help support students in need. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Donate to Philabundance: Your donations help us continue our mission to eliminate hunger in the Philadelphia area.
2. Support the Cherry Pantry: Temple University’s Cherry Pantry accepts donations of non-perishable food items, hygiene products, and financial contributions. Every little bit helps make a difference for a student in need.
3. Spread the Word: Hunger on college campuses is a growing problem, but it’s not widely discussed. Share what you’ve learned with friends, family, and colleagues to raise awareness about student hunger and how we can all play a part in ending it.