Cedar Crest College has once again been designated a Hunger-Free Campus and awarded its fifth $20,000 PA Hunger-Free Campus Grant. Along with supporting programs that improve students’ access to nutritious food and basic needs resources, the College is working to raise awareness about food insecurity and its impact on student success through an upcoming screening of Learning Hungry, a documentary exploring hunger on college campuses.
The award is part of $1 million in grants distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education to 30 colleges and universities across the Commonwealth through the Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative.
“Being named a Hunger-Free Campus again is a reflection of who we are as a community and what we believe every Cedar Crest student deserves,” said Dr. Calley Stevens Taylor, vice president for Student Success & Engagement and dean of students. “Students can’t learn, grow, or thrive if they’re worried about where their next meal is coming from. This work is at the heart of what it means to support the whole student at Cedar Crest.”
The Pennsylvania Hunger-Free Campus Initiative brings colleges and universities together to address student hunger and other basic needs, share resources, and support campus efforts through grant funding.
At Cedar Crest, the designation reflects ongoing efforts to improve food access, promote Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and connect students with resources to help meet their basic needs.
Grant funding supports a Dietetics Intern position, giving a graduate student hands-on experience while bringing additional nutrition expertise to the David P. Keller Resource Pantry. It also helps maintain the College’s partnership with the Kellyn Foundation, which provides weekly deliveries of fresh produce, prepared salads, breads, meals, and pantry staples such as oatmeal, flour, and dried beans. This past fall, the partnership also brought a pop-up farm market to campus, where more than 100 members of the campus community shopped for fresh fruits and vegetables.
Additional funding provides frozen, prepared meals through Parkhurst Dining for students who rely on campus dining services, ensuring they have food options during academic breaks when campus dining is closed.
The College also uses grant funds to support Single Stop, an assessment tool that helps students and community members identify which state and federal assistance programs they may be eligible for, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and provides guidance on how to apply.
Remaining funds are used to purchase pantry items that meet the dietary needs of Cedar Crest’s student population.
“This designation belongs to everyone—our students, our employees, our dining partners, and our community organizations. It takes a village to provide this level of support, and Cedar Crest has a remarkable one,” said Dr. Taylor.
Bringing the Conversation About Food Insecurity to Campus
Beyond providing direct assistance, Cedar Crest is working to build greater awareness and understanding of food insecurity through a screening of Learning Hungry, a documentary exploring how food insecurity affects college students. The film examines the far-reaching effects of hunger on students’ academic performance, mental health, retention, and persistence, highlighting how access to food can shape the entire college experience.
Following the screening, Cara Cavall, Mission Integration program coordinator, and Lisa Johnson, director of Persistence Support Resources, will co-moderate a community conversation about food insecurity on college campuses and within the Cedar Crest community. The discussion will give attendees an opportunity to learn more about the challenges students face, hear different perspectives, and consider ways to make a difference.
“The Learning Hungry documentary puts a real face to food insecurity on college campuses,” said Johnson. “By following the film with honest conversation about hunger and food insecurity within the Cedar Crest community and the Lehigh Valley, we hope attendees leave with a clear understanding of what food instability is and some actionable ways to make a difference. Supporting the David P. Keller Resource Pantry is one of the most direct places to start.”
Hosted by Mission Integration and the Office of Persistence Support Resources, Learning Hungry will be screened Wednesday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m. at the Amory Soisson Center, Tompkins College Center. The community conversation will follow from 4:30 to 5 p.m.
From keeping the resource pantry stocked and accessible to connecting students with fresh food, assistance programs, and opportunities for conversation, Cedar Crest continues to look for ways to meet students’ needs and remove barriers to success.