FRAC Chat

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, research showed that food insecurity was a serious problem on college campuses across the nation, especially among students of color, lower-income students, and students at community colleges. The already too-high rates and harmful consequences of food insecurity have only been exacerbated during the pandemic as college students face disruptions to their learning and employment due to campus closures and the economic downturn. According to a Hope Center survey conducted last spring, about one-third of college students who were employed lost their jobs due to the pandemic. 

Serving free school meals to all students is a gamechanger for students, families, and schools, supporting students’ education and health and improving school nutrition finances and operations. Currently, schools across the country are able to offer free meals to all students under the child nutrition waivers that USDA has issued to support access to meals during the pandemic.  In the 2020–2021 school year, more than 30,000 schools (1 in 3 schools operating the school breakfast and lunch programs) were offering free school meals to all students through the Community Eligibility Provision. Looking ahead to life after the pandemic, Free School Meals for All should remain for all schools across the country.

In honor of Black History Month, here are 8 Black anti-hunger champions you should know.

If you’ve ever watched “I’m Just a Bill” from Schoolhouse Rock, you’re familiar with the process of how a bill becomes a law. But one thing the animated bill from the video may not have explained is how budget reconciliation works. Congress is currently pursuing budget reconciliation to pass the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package based on President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

COVID-19 and the unexpected switch to remote learning have negatively impacted college students’ academic performance, mental health, and food security. Even before the pandemic, food insecurity was widespread across the most well-resourced campuses.
Food insecurity has historically and disproportionately affected students of color, older students, former foster youth, parenting students, students who experienced childhood food insecurity, and first-generation college students.