The Gatepost Editorial: Providing security for the food insecure

By The Gatepost Editorial Board

As the semester begins to wind down, the holiday season is ramping up.

While this is always recognized as a time of year to give thanks and relax with friends and family, the holidays can be a stressful and worrisome time for many people. 

Over the last month, food insecurity has dominated news coverage and continued to weigh on many people’s minds in the wake of the record-breaking 43-day government shutdown.

The shutdown stopped the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a federal program that provides food assistance to low- and no-income individuals and families. 

Approximately 156,304 college students are eligible for SNAP benefits, according to the College SNAP Project, and only 20% of eligible students use them, according to The Hope Center. You can apply online at mass.gov to find out if you are eligible for benefits. 

The government shutdown brought conversations about SNAP and food insecurity to the forefront of news coverage and social media, and these reports and conversations have persisted even after the government reopened on Nov. 12. 

SNAP benefits were reinstated at least through September 2026, according to mass.gov. 

However, even with the return of SNAP benefits, people are still suffering.

Hunger can negatively impact students’ emotional, physical, and mental health, and as costs to attend universities continue to rise, students may be forced to forgo nutritious meals to save money.

To combat food insecurity for college students, it is increasingly important to communicate the resources students have access to both on and off campus.

On campus, the Rams Resource Center (RRC) provides non-perishable food items, toiletries, and resource referrals for students, faculty, and staff. 

The RRC is located behind West Hall and though they are closed in observance of holidays such as Thanksgiving, they are open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

The RRC donation box is located outside of the Dean of Students office on the fifth floor of the McCarthy Center. Rams can lend a helping hand by donating brand new toiletries, unexpired food, and other amenities such as laundry detergent, bedding sets, and towels.

People who struggle with food insecurity usually struggle with paying for other basic needs, so donating items such as toiletries and bedding is also important. 

The University takes donations to support students in a number of ways.

Suits for Students is a program that allows students to take donated business clothing for job interviews, conferences, and other professional settings. Suits for Students is often in the McCarthy Center right inside the main doors on the third floor and students can take items they need and keep them.

The Health Center stocks the health care vending machine on the third floor of the McCarthy Center, where students can access sanitary products, pain medication, and sexual protection. The vending machine is free for the campus community. 

Off campus, there are many food pantries in the region, including A Place To Turn in Natick, Hope Worldwide Framingham Food Pantry, and the Sudbury Food Pantry. 

A comprehensive list of food pantries and organizations that can help with meals can be found on the RRC’s Instagram as well as on the Metrowest Food Collaborative’s website. 

You can also call Project Bread’s food source hotline at (800) 645-8333 for further assistance and resources.

It is important to note that members of our campus community may be struggling with challenges we cannot see. 

Even as the end-of-semester stress begins to weigh on us, we always have the opportunity to spread love, kindness, and empathy to our peers, our professors, and our staff. 

Food insecurity and fundamental needs are not exclusive to the holiday season. If you are able, donate to the RRC throughout the year.

Even small acts of kindness make a big difference.  

If you or your family are dealing with food insecurity, know that you are not alone. The resources listed above are available to you at any time. 

No student should be afraid to reach out for help this holiday season.